[Plasma antidiuretic hormone level as an indicator of perioperative stress (Part I) (author's transl)]

The secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is mainly influenced by changes in osmolality and blood volume. In addition stress and surgical trauma may cause an elevation in plasma-ADH levels. In 20 patients scheduled for similar surgical procedures two different anaesthesia techniques were applied: in group 1 (n = 10) a combination of peridural anaesthesia and neuroleptanalgesia (PDA/NLA) was performed, in group 2 halothane anaesthesia with intubation was used. The perioperative control of plasma-ADH levels demonstrated a smaller increase in group 1 (PDA/NLA) compared to group 2 (Halothane), thus implicating a better attenuation of stress and pain.