Fentanyl and the β-endorphin, acth and glucoregulatory hormonal response to surgery

Abstract

The effect of the supplementation of nitrous oxide-oxygen anaesthesia with either fentanyl 15 μg kg-1 or 0.5% halothane on the β-endorphin, ACTH, glucoregulatory hormonal and metabolic response to pelvic surgery was investigated. Fentanyl inhibited the increases in circulating β-endorphin, ACTH, growth hormone, cortisol and glucose concentrations found in the patients receiving halothane. Changes in circulating β-endorphin concentrations during surgery probably reflect alterations in pituitary secretion and appear to have no major metabolic effects. The suppression of pituitary secretion persisted for at least 4 h after the start of surgery. © 1987 British Journal of Anaesthesia.