Splanchnic oxygen uptake in relation to systemic oxygen uptake during postoperative splanchnic blockade and...

In 34 patients with gallbladder disease, but otherwise healthy, the systemic and splanchnic oxygen uptake were studied in connection with cholecystectomy. Postoperatively, 22 patients were given a posterior splanchnic blockade with 0.5% plain lidocaine, and 12 were given fentanyl intramuscularly in a dose of 3.5 mug/kg b.w. Postoperatively, before the analgesic agent was administered, both the systemic and splanchnic oxygen uptake were increased by 40--50%, the splanchnic fraction of the systemic oxygen uptake being the same as preoperatively. Following administration of fentanyl, as well as after splanchnic blockade, the systemic oxygen uptake decreased almost to the preoperative level. The splanchnic oxygen uptake, however, did not change after fentanyl administration but increased further significantly following splanchnic blockade. The splanchnic fraction of the systemic oxygen uptake increased rapidly after the blockade, while it increased slowly after fentanyl administration.