General anesthesia-associated DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of surgical patients

Objective: To evaluate retrospectively the effect of general anesthesia on DNA damage in the blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of surgical patients in order to provide evidence for a better nursing care during the procedure. Methods: Clinical charts of 76 patients who underwent operation under general anesthesia and 76 healthy control subjects with documented results of DNA damage extent in PBMCs from the single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) or comet assay and serum contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) from biochemical analyses were reviewed. The percentage of comet PBMCs and tail DNA and serum contents of SOD and MAD were analyzed by student t-test. Results: Compared with healthy control subjects, generally anesthetized surgical patients had significantly higher % comet PBMCs and % tail DNA (P < 0.05) and significantly lower serum concentrations of SOD (P < 0.05) and significantly higher serum concentrations of MAD (P < 0.05). Compared with levels before general anesthesia in surgical patients, % comet PBMCs, % tail DNA, and serum levels of MAD were significantly higher (P < 0.05 or 0.01), and serum levels of SOD were significantly lower (P < 0.05), after general anesthesia. Conclusions: General anesthesia during surgery causes a certain degree of hypoxia and PBMC damage. Particular attention should be paid to monitoring and maintenance of blood oxygen saturation in patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia.