Figure 3

Line graph. The effect of anesthesia in patients undergoing vulvectomy and major abdominal surgery on perioperative IDO activity as defined by the ratio of tryptophan/kynurenine. Values are the mean and SEM. There was a significant within subject effect (P < 0.001). In addition, a significant difference between experimental groups was found (P = 0.041). There was a significant increase in plasma IDO activity measured prior to induction and thirty minutes prior to the end of the operation (bracket P = 0.003). A significant decrease occurred between IDO activity measured prior to the end of the operation and levels measured at 24 hours post operative (bracket P < 0.001). Bar graph: The effect of anesthesia in patients undergoing vulvectomy and major abdominal surgery on perioperative levels of KYN. Values are the mean and SEM. There was a significant within subject effect (P < 0.001) as well as a significant difference between experimental groups (P = 0.032). At 96 hours post operative, the laparotomy group had significantly lower levels of plasma KYN than the vulvectomy group (P = 0.028). There was a significant plasma KYN level decrease during measurements made prior to induction and the end of operation (bracket P < 0.001). A significant increase occurred between points measured prior to the end of operation and 24 hours post operative (bracket P < 0.041).