Stress responses in three different anesthetic techniques for carbon dioxide laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and compare the stress hormone responses during laparoscopic cholecystectomy during general anesthesia, general anesthesia supplemented by fentanyl, and general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized clinical study.


METHODS
Operating rooms at a municipal hospital.


METHODS
52 ASA physical status I and II patients.


METHODS
Anesthesia was induced slowly with sevoflurane and nitrous oxide (N2O) in oxygen (O2) by mask. Endotracheal intubation was facilitated with intravenous (i.v.) vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg. In 17 patients, anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and 50% N2O in O2. For another 18 patients, fentanyl 4 micrograms/kg was administered after endotracheal intubation, and anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and 50% N2O in O2. The remaining 17 patients received thoracic epidural anesthesia (1% mepivacaine in an 8 ml bolus followed by a continuous infusion of 1% mepivacaine, 3 ml/hr) after endotracheal inturbation, and general anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and 50% N2O in O2. End-tidal sevoflurane concentrations were adjusted to maintain mean arterial pressure between 70% and 100% of preinduction values.


RESULTS
Venous blood was sampled for measurements of cortisol and catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) immediately before and 30 minutes after surgical incision. Cortisol levels increased in all three anesthesia techniques. Both catecholamines increased in patients receiving general anesthesia only; catecholamines did not increase significantly in patients receiving general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia; in patients receiving general anesthesia supplemented with fentanyl, both catecholamines increased significantly, but the degree of increase in norepinephrine was less than that in the general anesthesia only group.


CONCLUSIONS
The fentanyl supplemented group received relatively small doses insufficient to inhibit an increase in catecholamines. Thoracic epidural anesthesia depressed the sympathetic response presumably by blocking afferent sympathetic pathways under the conditions of this study. However, it did not attenuate an increase in cortisol, one of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress hormones, during carbon dioxide laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our study. This action may be due to the inability of epidural anesthesia to block phrenic nerves that can convey noxious surgical stimulation to the central nervous system.
Aono
H
H
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160-7415, USA.
Takeda
A
A
Tarver
S D
SD
Goto
H
H
D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
D002395:Catecholamines; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006854:Hydrocortisone