Influence of anaesthesia on coagulation and fibrinolytic proteins

The changes in indices of coagulation (factors II, X and antithrombin III) and fibrinolytic factors (plasminogen and alpha 2-antiplasmin) were studied in 30 patients during ophthalmic surgery. Twenty patients received thiopentone-nitrous oxide-enflurane anesthesia with either controlled (n = 10) or spontaneous (n = 10) ventilation. The remaining 10 patients received regional analgesia. No significant changes were observed in any of the measured indices in any group during, or following, surgery and it was concluded that anaesthesia has no direct influence on the coagulation or fibrinolytic proteins.