BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - This study from the University of Texas Southwestern Group evaluated the common postoperative serum laboratory values in 50 patients undergoing uncomplicated urological laparoscopic surgery. They found that following uncomplicated laparoscopic procedures, bilirubin levels are rarely affected. Interestingly, amylase and lipase may be acutely increased following laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Right-sided renal procedures are commonly associated with increases in AST, ALT, and GGT, likely due to manipulation of the liver in these cases. The most important finding of this study was the absence of leukopenia, and actually 36% of patients' demonstrated leukocytosis. Other investigators have noted leukopenia as a hallmark in patients sustaining laparoscopic bowel injury. Therefore, results of this study, which includes only uncomplicated laparoscopic patients, highlights the importance of an observed leukopenia post-laparoscopy as an immediate alert to a possible undiagnosed complication, and particularly a bowel injury.

J Urol 175: 167-169, January 2006