CHANGES IN VITAMIN-E CONCENTRATION AFTER SURGERY AND ANESTHESIA

The aim of this randomized study was to examine changes in vitamin E c oncentration in female subjects (age 30-60, ASA I) after cholecystecto my and halothane (N=16) or isoflurane (N=16) anaesthesia. Vitamin E co ncentration was measured two days before, and then one, five and twent y-four hours and four days after surgery. High-pressure liquid chromat ography was used for its determination. Simultaneously activities of a lanine aminotransferase (ALT) aspartate aminotransferase (AST) gamma g lutamyltransferase (GGT) were determined. Statistical analysis: ANOVA, Tukay HSD test. The research has been accepted by the Drugs Committee of the Karlovac County Hospital. Preoperative vitamin E concentration s in the halothane group were 8.69 +/- 2.35 mu g/L, median 8.67 mu g/L and in the isoflurane group 9.43 +/- 2.4 mu g/L, median 9.08 mu g/L. Statistically lower vitamin E concentrations compared with preoperativ e values were noted one hour (P < 0.05), 5 hours (P < 0.01), 24 hours (P < 0.01), as well as 4 days (P < 0.01) after the operation. The lowe st vitamin E concentrations were noted 24 hours after the operation wi th statistically insignificantly higher values in the isoflurane group (halothane group 5.98 +/- 2.08 mu g/L, isoflurane group 6.58 +/- 2.51 mu g/L). Analyzing enzyme (ALT, AST and GGT) pre- and postoperative v alues, no statistically significant differences between the investigat ed groups and during the time were observed. Statistically significant differences were found between individual measurement times, with no statistical significance of the differences between the halothane and isoflurane groups. It seems that neither the difference in. halothane and isoflurane biotransformation nor their distinct effect on perfusio n of some organs are the determining factors in postoperative changes in vitamin E concentration.