[Effects of surgical stress on peripheral venous functions]

Postoperative changes in peripheral venous functions were determined by Ga-In strain gauge plethysmography in 28 surgical patients, and central venous functions and urine catecholamine levels were also measured. The results were as follows: 1. The maximum venous outflow (MVO) and arterial blood inflow volume (AF) of the healthy arms tended to increase with age, but showed no sex or right-to-left difference. 2. MVO, AF and venous distensibility were decreased postoperatively, and the decreases were greater in the patients with major surgery than in those with minor surgery. 3. MVO in the patients with high urine levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline showed a greater decrease than those in normal subjects, and the majority of these patients were found to have had major surgery. There was a negative correlation between the urine noradrenaline level and MVO. 4. The decrease in peripheral venous functions preceded the decrease in central venous functions. 5. The postoperative decrease in peripheral venous functions was considered to be the result of active vasoconstriction due to hypersecretion of catecholamines caused by surgical stress and increase in the extravascular pressure. 6. Measurement of venous functions of the arm may be a good parameter for detecting circulatory disturbances due to surgical stress.