Background: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of modified neuroleptanesthesia (NLA) with fentanyl/midazolam on the catabolic responses during and after abdominal surgery.
Methods: A total of 13 patients undergoing cystoprostatectomy received either modified NLA ( n=7) or inhaled anesthesia with isoflurane (ISO, n=6). Glucose and urea production rates were assessed before, during and 1 day after the operation. Plasma concentrations of glucose, urea, lactate, insulin, glucagon and cortisol were also determined.
Results: In contrast to isoflurane anesthesia, modified NLA prevented an increase in plasma glucose concentration and glucose production during ( P<0.05), but not after surgery. There were no differences in perioperative urea production rates or plasma concentrations of urea, insulin, glucagon and lactate between the two groups. Modified NLA suppressed the intraoperative increase in plasma cortisol concentration as observed in the ISO group ( P<0.05).
Conclusion: Modified NLA inhibits the increase in plasma glucose concentration and glucose production as seen during isoflurane anesthesia. However, NLA does not influence the catabolic response on the first postoperative day.