title: Inhibition of adrenergic response to upper abdominal surgery with prolonged epidural blockade.
abstract: The influence of prolonged epidural blockade on urinary excretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine was studied in 34 patients prepared for elective gastrectomy. The patients operated on under general anesthesia showed a remarkable increase in excretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine on the day of operation, and a continued increase of norepinephrine excretion of 2 days postoperatively. These adrenergic responses were significantly inhibited in the patients undergoing gastrectomy and epidural blockade extending from T3-4 to L1-2 and continuing for 48 hours postoperatively. Thus, the sympathetic hyperactivity due to upper abdominal operation may be reduced by prolonged epidural blockade with no apparent deleterious effects.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine*; D011184:Postoperative Period
chemical_list: D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine