Central and peripheral circulation immediately after pulmonary surgery as related to sympathodrenal activity

Catecholamine output and circulation were observed in connection with pulmonary surgery in one group of ten patients who were anaesthetized with halothane-N20-02-d-tubocurarine and who breathed spontaneously after operation. In another group of four patients who received a modified neurolept anaesthesia with phenoperidine-N2O-O2-d-tubocurarine and who were mechanically ventilated also after operation, catecholamine output and temperature were observed. In both patient groups, catecholamine output was normal during iperation. Adrenaline output increased by 400% the first postoperative hours, while noradrenaline output remained normal. Thereafter, noradrenaline output increased, while adrenaline output started to decrease. A subnormal body temperature was seen at the end of the operation. In two patients from the neurolept group, adrenaline output and temperature were recorded hour by hour; maximal adrenaline output concided with maximal temperature rise. In the patients from the halothane group, the pstoperative change in foot, calf and forearm blood flow correlated well with the change in catecholamine output. The central circulatory response to the symptahoadrenal stimulation was, however, found to be less pronounced than is ordinarily seen.