Effect of surgery under general anaesthesia on antipyrine clearance.
1 The effect of surgery under general anaesthesia on drug metabolism was investigated in man. The activity of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes was evaluated by measurement of antipyrine clearance, before surgery and 3 days after surgery, in eighteen patients. 2 In those patients in whom the operation lasted 2 h or less, the postoperative clearance of antipyrine was significantly (P less than 0.05) increased by 48%; in those patients in whom the operation lasted 2--4 h, it was non-significantly decreased by 36%; in those patients in whom the operation lasted more than 4 h, it was significantly decreased by 47% (P less than 0.01). 3 It is concluded (a) that short operations are followed by increased activity of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes, whereas (b) protracted operations are followed by decreased activity. It is suggested (a) that the former effect may be a consequence of enzyme induction by drugs used for premedication and anaesthesia, whereas (b) the latter effect may be the result of major surgical trauma.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000983:Antipyrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013997:Time Factors
D000983:Antipyrine