Enhanced suppression of hormonal and metabolic responses to stress by application of combined spinal-epidural and general anaesthesia compared with combined spinal general anaesthesia during colorectal surgery

The aim of the study was to determine the impact of combined spinal-epidural and general anesthesia (CSEGA) on the suppression of the hormonal and metabolic response to surgical stress and to compare it with the technique of combined spinal and general anesthesia (CSGA). Sixteen patients referred for elective colorectal surgery randomly divided into two groups on the basis of anesthesia (CSEGA and CSGA). Mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, haemoglobin saturation, serum glucose, serum cortisol and urinary catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine) were determined at four distinct peri-operative time points. During the peri-operative period the overall haemodynamic and respiratory functions in patients that received CSEGA were superior compared to those in patients that received CSGA. Biochemical analysis revealed that in the sera of patients that received CSEGA the concentration of both glucose and cortisol was elevated to a lesser degree than that observed in the sera of patients that received CSGA. Furthermore, a significant reduction in post-operative urinary catecholamine (adrenaline and noradrenaline) excretion was apparent in the CSEGA group. We conclude that CSEGA is a more suitable form of combined anaesthesia for colorectal surgery with a clear advantage of a blunted surgery-mediated neuro-endocrine stress response.