A Preliminary Study On Surgery Stress Of Abdominal Operations Under Epidural Block In Dogs

Objective: to study the effects of epidural block on plasma cortisol, interIeukin-2 and blood sugar to abdominal operations in dogs. Methods: 16 abdominal operations of dogs were divided into two groups: epidural block (experiment group, n1=8) and pentothal sodium intravenous anesthesia (control group, n2=8). Blood samples were taken pre-inductively ( T0), post-inductively ( T1), immediately after open abdomen( T2 ), 30 minutes post operatively ( T3 ), at the end of operation ( T4 ), 24 hours post operatively ( T5 ) and 48 hours post operatively( T6 ) The levels of plasma cortisol, interleukin-2 and blood sugar were measured by radioimmunoassay and colorimetric assay, respectively. Results: (1) The average level of plasma cortisol in control group was significantly higher than that of experiment group ( P< 0.05 ); there was no significant difference to T0 in experiment group at various time (P>0.05 ), while the levels at time T3 and T4 were significantly higher than T0 in control group; the plasma cortisol level in control group was significantly higher than that in experiment group at the time of T4. (2) The average level of plasma interleukin-2 in control group was significantly lower than that in experiment group ( P< 0.01 ); the levels at time T3 and T4 were significantly higher than that at TO in experiment group, whereas in control group, the level at time T5 was significantly lower than TO; the plasma interleukin-2 level in control group was significantly lower than that in experiment group at the time of T2, T3,T5 and T6. (3) The average level of blood sugar in control group was significantly higher than that in experiment group; the level at time T4 was significantly higher than TO in experiment group, and the same at time T3, T4, T5 in control group; the blood sugar level in control group was significantly higher than that of experiment group at the time of T4. Conclusion: The stress response to abdominal operations in dogs could be relieved more effectively by epidural block than by pentothal sodium intravenous anesthesia.