[Response of human growth hormone to anesthesia induction with propofol]

Although there are distinct differences in both pharmacokinetics and chemical structure, propofol has sedative effects similar to those of benzodiazepines. Both diazepam and thiopental, commonly used agents for inducing anaesthesia, show some typical neuroendocrine effects such as liberation of human growth hormone (hGH) in addition to their well-known influences on the cardiovascular system. It was our aim to examine the endocrine response of hGH after induction of anaesthesia with propofol and to compare any possible effects with those of diazepam and thiopental. The study was performed on 30 non-premedicated patients, who underwent plastic-surgery (mean age: x = 35 +/- 8.3 years, mean body weight: x = 68.9 +/- 23.2 kg). No signs of endocrine disturbances were found in the patients prior to the study. Patients were divided in a random fashion into 3 groups of 10 persons each: In group 1 propofol was given in a bolus injection (2 mg/kg) and then by infusion for a period of 10 min (0.2 mg/kg/min). In group 2 diazepam (0.3 mg/kg) and in group 3 thiopental (5 mg/kg) were administered as a bolus to induce anesthesia. All patients were intubated immediately after induction of anesthesia and then relaxed using vecuronium (1 mg/kg). Ventilation was performed mechanically during the entire operative period (N2O/O2 - FiO2:0.33, tidal volume 10 ml/kg, respiratory rate: 14/min). To maintain anesthesia halothane (0.5-1.0 vol.-%) and meperidine (0.75 mg/kg) were added 15 min after induction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)