[The alterations of serum colloid osmotic pressure, serum protein and water balance during prolonged anesthesia].

The changes of serum colloid osmotic pressure (COPm), serum protein and water balance were examined in 9 patients during and for 2 weeks after operation which required prolonged anesthesia. The values of serum total protein (TP), serum albumin (Alb) and COPm decreased by about 17% three hours after the start of anesthesia and by 15%, 20% and 24%, respectively, after 18 hours. These values returned to each preoperative value about one week after the operation. The correlation coefficients (the values in parentheses were calculated using data obtained during anesthesia) comparing COPm to TP, Alb and calculated colloid osmotic pressure (Landis' equation) were 0.661 (0.710), 0.480 (0.649) and 0.666 (0.727). There was no correlation between COPm and water balance. When COPm was 17.5mmHg or lower, calculated colloid osmotic pressure value was higher than COPm as the Alb/TP ratio decreased. Decreases in the values of COPm and serum protein during operation were considered to have been caused mainly by increased capillary permeability.