Cortisol levels during enflurane anesthesia in man
Kaniaris, P.; Fassoulaki, A.; Paraschou, A.
Acta Anaesthesiologica Belgica 30(4): 225-229
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5164 PMID: 549438 Document Number: 142185
Serum cortisol levels were determined in 44 patients who underwent hysterectomy under enflurane or under halothane anesthesia by means of a radioimmunoassay technique. Of the 44 patients, in 21 anesthesia was maintained by enflurane and d-tubocurarine and 23 patients maintenance of anesthesia was carried out by halothane and d-tubocurarine. Blood samples for serum cortisol estimations were obtained from each patient before induction of anesthesia, 10 min. after induction, 10 min. after skin incision, at the end of the operation and in the ward on the fourth postoperative day. Cortisol levels increased in both groups at the end of the operation with a significantly higher mean value in the enflurane group (p less than 0.05) compared to that of the halothane group.