[Interaction between hypnotic agents and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocorticotropic axis during surgery].

E Besnier1, T Clavier1, H Castel2

  • 1Département d'anesthésie-réanimation chirurgicale - SAMU, CHU de Rouen, 1, rue de Germont, 76031 Rouen, France; Inserm U982, DC2N Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Cell Differentiation and Communication, Astrocyte and Vascular Niche, IRIB, University of Rouen, PRES Normandy, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France.

Summary

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulates stress responses. Etomidate, an anesthetic, most significantly impairs HPA axis function, suggesting limited use in patients with pre-existing HPA axis alterations.

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