[Assessment of postoperative infective risk by delayed hypersensitivity tests. The influence of deficient nutrition and its correction (author's transl)]

Abstract

Cellular immunity was assessed in 120 patients by simple skin tests (tuberculin, candidine, varidase, C.C.B., trichophyton). There is a close relationship between total anergism and the risk of severe infection in digestive surgery, and between anergism and deficient nutrition as determined by laboratory and anthropometric criteria. Preoperative correction of nutritional deficiency, which is often underestimated, has an inconstant effect upon skin test responses, but seems to decrease severe postoperative infective complications.