title: Stress and ano-colorectal surgery in newborn/infant: role of anesthesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The best anesthesia for newborns/infants necessitating colorectal surgery remains questionable. Endovenous and locoregional anesthesiological approaches were compared to determine the influence on stress response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with anorectal malformations or Hirschsprung's disease were randomized to inhalatory/epidural anesthesia (IPA) or inhalatory/endovenous anesthesia (IEA). Heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone, cortisol, and glucose were recorded 24 h before operation (T0), after tracheal intubation (T1), 120 min after skin incision (T2), 60 min (T3) and 24 h after operation (T4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients were enrolled in the study, 8 receiving IPA, and 9 IEA. Heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation remained stable and normal, without statistical differences between the two groups, during the study period. Similar cortisol and glucose levels showed no statistical differences between groups. Dehydroepiandrosterone values were significantly higher in IEA during anesthesia (T1-T3) compared with IPA (T1: 494.0 vs. 266.5, p < 0.05; T2: 444.0 vs. 201.0, p < 0.05; T3: 385.0 vs. 305.0, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that epidural and endovenous anesthesia are both effective in intra- and postoperative period. This preliminary report suggests that IPA is more efficient compared to IEA in controlling stress reaction related to surgery. Further larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.
authors: Anesthesia Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Research Institute, Piazza S. Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy. patrizia.bozza@opbg.net
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Bozza
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Morini
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Conforti
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Sgrò
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Laviani Mancinelli
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ottino
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Bagolan
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Picardo
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000071056:Anorectal Malformations; D001006:Anus, Imperforate / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006627:Hirschsprung Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine