[Ketamine anesthesia in strabismus surgery--hormone and cardiovascular tests]

The effects of ketamine anesthesia on the sympathoadrenal and adrenocortical system, on plasma concentrations of somatotropine and insulin and the circulatory system were investigated in eight patients undergoing strabismus surgery. Therefore blood concentrations of adrenalin, noradrenalin, ACTH, cortisol, somatotropin and insulin as well as arterial blood pressure and heart rate were measured 30 min after premedication (I), 5 min after the initial injection of ketamine (II) and in steady state during the operation (III). Plasma adrenalin and noradrenalin levels were determined fluorimetrically by a modified trihydroxyindole technic; plasma cortisol, somatrotropin and insulin were determined by radioimmunoassay. All examined parameters--except insulin--showed significant changes after induced of anesthesia and during surgery compared to the respective pre-anesthetic values.