Key result
Epidural analgesia inhibited the anterior pituitary response to surgical stress, preventing the increases in cortisol, prolactin, and growth hormone seen with general anaesthesia.
Why the study?
Does epidural analgesia reduce the prolactin, LH, FSH, growth hormone, and cortisol responses to surgical stress in female patients compared to halothane general anaesthesia?
Observational
Does epidural analgesia reduce the prolactin, LH, FSH, growth hormone, and cortisol responses to surgical stress in female patients compared to halothane general anaesthesia?
Epidural analgesia (neurogenic blockade) inhibits the anterior pituitary hormone response to surgical stress compared to general anaesthesia.
Epidural analgesia was associated with blunted cortisol, prolactin, and GH responses; leaves open clinical relevance pending randomized trials.
The prolactin, LH, FSH, growth hormone and cortisol responses to surgical stress were studied in female patients receiving halothane (general) anaesthesia or epidural analgesia. Plasma cortisol, prolactin, and growth hormone concentrations increased during surgery, and post-operatively in patients operated under general anaesthesia, but not in patients operated during epidural analgesia. Gonadotrophin concentrations were unchanged in the general anaesthesia group until 9 h after stimulation when levels decreased slightly. In contrast plasma gonadotrophin levels decreased immediately after the administration of epidural analgesia and during the following 9 h. It is concluded that neurogenic blockade inhibits the anterior pituitary response to surgical stress.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Hagen et al. (1980) conducted an observational in Surgical stress. Epidural analgesia vs. Halothane (general) anaesthesia was evaluated on Prolactin, LH, FSH, growth hormone and cortisol responses to surgical stress. Epidural analgesia inhibited the anterior pituitary response to surgical stress, preventing the increases in cortisol, prolactin, and growth hormone seen with general anaesthesia.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: