The sedative effect of premedication as measured by catecholamine excretion

Abstract

Summary: In thirty patients scheduled for elective surgery emotional responses before anaesthesia and surgery and the sedative effect of drugs commonly used for pre-operative medication were estimated by the measurement of urine catecholamines. The fluorimetric method of measuring urinary catecholamines was employed. In studies dealing with subjects exposed to comparable stressful situations, values of 20 ng/min of adrenaline in the urine are considered indicative of significant emotional tension. Using this criterion we found only four subjects who showed elevated adrenaline excretion. In both groups of patients with high and normal catecholamine levels no significant change in values was shown after pre-operative medication. © 1966 John Sherratt and Son Ltd.