Some notes on the hormonal and haemodynamic responses to stressful stimuli

The symptoms of hypertension in pregnancy may be exacerbated by pain or other stressful stimuli, arising during labour. The anaesthetist has a part to play in alleviating these problems, through his knowledge of analgesic techniques. In addition, pre-eclampsia sometimes necessitates delivery by cesarean section. Increases in arterial pressure during intubation and surgery may be poorly tolerated. Proper anaesthetic management of pre-eclampsia therefore requires knowledge of circulatory and other, e.g. hormonal, responses to pain and other types of stress. The present paper gives a short review of these aspects.