[Does the difference in anesthetic methods influence postoperative nitrogen balance?].

Abstract

To evaluate the influence of anesthesia on postoperative nitrogen balance after upper abdominal surgery, twenty-seven patients undergoing the surgery were investigated. They were allocated randomly to three groups receiving different anesthetic methods, i.e., epidural anesthesia, general anesthesia or balanced anesthesia. In the epidural anesthesia group, anesthesia was maintained with 0.5% isoflurane, nitrous oxide and oxygen supplemented with epidural analgesia extending from Th 1 to L 3. In general anesthesia group, anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane, nitrous oxide and oxygen. In balanced anesthesia group, anesthesia was maintained with 0.5% isoflurane, nitrous oxide, oxygen and intravenous fentanyl. Epidural fentanyl was used for postoperative analgesia in all groups. There was no significant difference in the cumulative nitrogen balance for three days among the three groups. Postoperative values of IL-6 and CRP also did not differ significantly among the three groups. Postoperative WBC was significantly higher in the balanced anesthesia group than in other two groups. The results suggest that the difference in anesthetic methods does not influence postoperative nitrogen balance.