Fs. Kanakoudis et al., SOMATOSTATIN AND TOTAL INTRAVENOUS ANESTHESIA - ASSESSMENT OF ANALGESIC REQUIREMENTS DURING SURGERY AND THE EFFECTS ON LIVER ENZYMES, Anaesthesia, 50(7), 1995, pp. 594-597
We have studied the analgesic effects of somatostatin during surgery a
nd its influence on the plasma glucose levels and the liver enzyme pro
file in 40 ASA 1 or 2 patients undergoing surgery for carcinoma of the
gastrointestinal tract. Each patient received either somatostatin bol
us 3.5 mu g.kg(-1) intravenously plus an infusion of somatostatin 3.5
mu g.kg(-1).h(-1), or sodium chloride 0.9% as a placebo in a double-bl
ind manner. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol 1 mg.kg(-1) followed
by a continuous infusion of propofol in a stepwise declining regimen.
Vecuronium was used for muscular relaxation. Fentanyl 100 mu g was ad
ministered intravenously in bolus doses for analgesia during surgery a
s required. Blood samples were taken at 10 min pre-induction, 5 min po
stintubation, 5, 30, 60, 120 min postincision and 30 min post-recovery
for plasma glucose levels. Blood samples were also taken at 10 min pr
e-induction, 120 min postincision and 24 h postoperatively for liver e
nzymes. The total requirement for fentanyl in the control group was si
gnificantly higher (p < 0.001) than in the group that received somatos
tatin. Eight out of 20 patients in the study group required no additio
nal analgesia intra-operatively. The changes in blood glucose values f
ollowed the same pattern in both groups. There was a tendency for live
r enzymes to increase in both groups. Although this increase was less
in the study group, this change was not statistically significant.