Comparative study of intravenous anaesthetic techniques administered during short-term gynecological operations

The effects of nine intravenous anaesthetic techniques on serum cortisol level and circulatory parameters were studied in healthy patients undergoing termination of pregnancy. Considering the increased pre-operation values and those of the pregnant control group as well as diurnal variations, it was found that the serum cortisol value changed during and after the procedure depending on the type of anaesthesia used. This might mean that the optimal type of anaesthesia for interruption could be designed by measuring the serum cortisol level, assuming that this parameter was one of the indicators of stress. The rating the different types of anaesthetics, the circulatory parameters were also considered. According to these criteria the best results were observed using methohexital in combination with fentanyl or diazepam.