The patterns of stress response in patients undergoing thyroid surgery under acupuncture anaesthesia in China.

The patterns of catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline), peptide hormones (adrenocorticotropic hormone, antidiuretic hormone, beta-endorphin, growth hormone and prolactin), hydrocortisone (cortisol) and those of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM) and total and differential leucocyte counts in the peripheral blood were investigated during and for 6 days after thyroid surgery in 20 patients (F/M: 18/2) performed under acupuncture anaesthesia, supplemented by small doses of pethidine (mean: 45.0 mg, s.d. 8.9). Throughout surgery the patients remained conscious. During surgery a significant increase in the level of catecholamines and the above-mentioned circulating hormones and a decrease of immunoglobulins were observed, whereas the leucocyte and differential counts demonstrated leucocytosis due to lymphocytosis, a decreased percentage of eosinophils and a remarkably reduced percentage of neutrophils. In the postoperative phase, levels of noradrenaline and beta-endorphin remained elevated, whereas the other circulating hormones gradually returned to normal values. Immunoglobulin levels and eosinophil counts returned to the preinduction values within 24 h, and those of neutrophil and lymphocyte counts within 2 days. Changes in number of monocytes and basophils could not be detected peri- and postoperatively.