[Operative stress during electroacupuncture and enflurane anaesthesia assessed by serum cortisol (author's transl)]

Before, during and after gynaecological operations performed either in electroacupuncture or enflurane anaesthesia plasma-cortisol levels were determined and compared to each other. During stimulation and operation plasma-cortisol increased continuously, indicating elevated sympathetic tone, whereas with enflurane anaesthesia plasma-cortisol levels were markedly lower. Postoperatively after electroacupuncture cortisol levels decreased, and rose again with the onset of pain. After enflurane anaesthesia cortisol levels increased continuously for a period of more than 90 min. Because of the strong correlation between degree of stress and plasma-cortisol level, our results demonstrate surgery under electroacupuncture analgesia to cause a stress greater than that during enflurane anaesthesia. The changes in cortisol levels were observed during stabilized cardiovascular conditions. Conditions varying plasma-cortisol levels too, are discussed.