Surgical trauma is a potent stimulus for the neurohormonal axis. The catecholamine response to surgical stress may be modulated by the anesthetic regimen utilized. We compared the hemodynamic response and catecholamine concentration to lower abdominal surgery during anesthesia with propofol or enflurane.

Forty six patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery were assigned randomly to two groups. In group I, anesthesia was induced with thiopental sodium 5.0mg/kg and maintained with enflurane-N2O. In group II, anesthesia was induced with propofol 2.0mg/kg and maintained with propofol 12 mg/kg/min by infusion pump. Hemodynamic responeses were recorded at tracheal intubation. Blood samples for later determination of plasma catecholamine were drawn and hemodynamic responses were recorded at preinduction, 1 minute after skin incision, 30minutes after skin incision.

There was no statistical significance in systolic and diastolic pressure between two groups. There was statistical significance in heart rate 30minutes after skin incision between two groups. There was no statistical significance in epineprine concentration between two groups. There was statistical significance in norepineprine 30 minutes after skin incision between two groups.

Propofol may be useful alternative at lower abdominal surgery and it may be convenient and safe intravenous anesthetics.