Plasma Catecholamines During Surgical Stress: Differences Between Neurolept and Enflurane Anaesthesia

B. Hamberger, P. ‐O Järnberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

To evaluate the influence of enflurane and neurolept anaesthesia on the sympatho‐adrenal response to surgery, arterial plasma concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline were measured at 11 carefully defined events before, during and after cholecystectomy in two groups of five patients. During steady‐state anaesthesia prior to operation and after cholangiography, when the operative procedure had been interrupted for 10 min, adrenaline concentrations were similar in the two groups. During periods of stress such as intubation, skin incision and abdominal exploration, adrenaline levels were 4–6 times higher in the neurolept patients compared to the enflurane patients (p<0.01), in whom adrenaline levels were very stable. Noradrenaline levels also varied with stress but without difference between the two groups. Systolic blood pressure was approximately 20 mmHg higher during operation in the neurolept group than in the enflurane group (P<0.05). It is concluded that enflurane blocks the sympatho‐adrenal response to surgical stress more effectively than conventional neurolept anaesthesia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)307-310
Number of pages4
JournalActa Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
Volume27
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1983
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anaesthesia: neuroleptanesthesia
  • anaesthetics intravenous: fentanyl
  • anaesthetics volatile: enflurane
  • sympathetic nervous system: catecholamines

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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