Real-world case series evaluating trypsin–chymotrypsin for postoperative recovery in general surgery patients

Abstract

Postoperative inflammation plays a pivotal role in recovery, contributing to pain, oedema, and delayed wound healing, and impacting overall patient comfort. Proteolytic enzymes, particularly the oral combination of trypsin–chymotrypsin, exhibit well-documented anti-inflammatory, anti-oedematous, and fibrinolytic effects that support postoperative recovery. This retrospective case series reports real-world clinical outcomes of seven patients treated across diverse surgical conditions in India, highlighting the clinical utility of this enzyme therapy. Across all cases, adjunctive trypsin–chymotrypsin was associated with marked reductions in erythema, oedema, induration, tenderness, and pain severity, alongside improved wound healing and patient comfort during follow-up. Notably, these benefits were observed across major abdominal procedures, recurrent hernia repair, fasciotomy for cellulitis, axillary soft-tissue excision, and complex oral cavity reconstruction with flap coverage, reflecting its versatility in managing postoperative inflammation. These observations suggest that trypsin–chymotrypsin may have a favourable effect on reducing postoperative inflammatory signs and improving patient comfort across the varied surgical scenarios.