Effects of anaesthesia on the endocrine system
Anesthesia plays an important role in surgery and medical procedures, but its effects on the endocrine system are often overlooked. Endocrine systems regulate a wide range of functions of the body, including metabolism, immunization and growth, through endocrine hormones. As narcotic drugs and surgical processes may interfere with these normal functions, understanding these effects is essential to ensure overall patient health and post-operative recovery.
1. Changes in hormones
Stress:
Surgery stress: The operation itself is a stress response to the body, which may result in the release of stress hormones, such as cortisol, from the endocrine system. Higher levels of cortisol can affect sugar metabolism, immune function and blood pressure. Anaesthesia: Anesthesia may also affect hormones. For example, inhalation of anaesthesia can have an effect on the hypothalaic-adrenal axis, changing the normal levels of hormones in the body.
Management measures:
Monitoring hormonal levels: In some cases, such as patients with long-term operations or basic endocrine diseases, monitoring changes in hormonal levels can help assess post-operative recovery. Adjustment of anaesthesia programme: Select appropriate anaesthesia among patients with known endocrine-related diseases and adjust the dose as necessary to reduce the disturbance of the endocrine system. Effects of sugar metabolism
Blood sugar fluctuations:
Sugar metabolic interference: Anesthesia and surgical processes may result in fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Especially for diabetes patients, surgery and anaesthesia can cause blood sugar control difficulties and increase the risk of low or high blood sugar. Stress hormones: Estrogens e.g. adrenaline and cortical alcohol released in stress can contribute to increased blood sugar, which may be particularly significant for diabetes patients.
Management measures:
Pre-operative blood sugar monitoring: Before the operation, the patient ‘ s blood sugar level should be assessed and adjusted as necessary. Post-operative monitoring: continued monitoring of blood sugar levels, particularly for diabetes patients, and timely adjustment of insulin or other diabetes drugs. 3. Changes in thyroid function
thyroid hormones:
Hormone level fluctuations: Anesthesia and surgery may affect thyroid hormones, especially in patients with thyroid disorders. This could lead to a change in metabolic rates, which could affect post-operative recovery processes. Drug interaction: There may be interactions between certain narcotic and thyroid drugs, affecting the efficacy and hormone levels of the drug.
Management measures:
Assessment of thyroid function: Pre-operative assessment of thyroid function, especially in patients with a history of thyroid disease. Adapting treatment programmes: Adapting the use of narcotic drugs to the results of thyroid function tests and ensuring that the thyroid drugs of patients are properly managed in and after surgery. 4. Changes in growth hormones
Growth hormones:
Anaesthesia effects: anaesthesia can affect the distribution of growth hormones, especially among children and adolescents. Growth hormones are essential for the growth and development of children, and the effects of narcotic drugs may temporarily disrupt the process. Post-operative recovery: During post-operative recovery, growth hormones may be affected, thus affecting growth and development.
Management measures:
Monitoring of growth and development: In the case of a child, the growth and development of the child should be closely monitored after the surgery to ensure a smooth post-operative recovery. Individualized management: Individualized anesthesia programmes based on the age and state of health of the patient are designed to reduce the potential impact on growth hormones. 5. Changes in sex hormones
Impact of sex hormones:
Changes in hormone levels: Anesthesia and surgery may affect levels of internal hormonals, such as estrogen and testosterone. Changes in sexual hormone levels, especially among women of reproductive age or older men, may affect post-operative recovery and health. Long-term effects: Long-term use of narcotic drugs may have cumulative effects on sexual hormones and affect long-term health.
Management measures:
Assessment of hormonal levels: In patients with sexually hormonal-related diseases or symptoms, hormonal levels are assessed pre-operative and adjusted as needed. Post-operative follow-up: follow-up visits after the operation to monitor the effects of changes in hormonal levels on patients ‘ health and to make necessary adjustments and interventions. Conclusions
The effect of anaesthesia on the endocrine system is mainly in the areas of hormones, sugar metabolism, thyroid function, growth hormones and sexual hormones. Awareness of these effects and management measures can help to reduce the disruption of the endocrine system by anaesthesia and to ensure the recovery of patients from surgery and post-operative health. Detailed pre-operative assessments and individualized anaesthesia programmes optimize the overall health of patients and improve the safety and effectiveness of operations.
