SYSTEMIC STRESS RESPONSE IN CHILDREN DURING MINOR SURGICAL INTERVENTION.

Surgical intervention provokes systemic stress response and the extent of response depends on the type of surgery, associated symptomatology, type of anaesthesia, etc. Many studies have shown that the extent and duration of stress response are proportional to the level of surgical injury and frequency of postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of systemic stress response during minor surgical intervention by measuring blood serum levels of cortisol and prolactin as humoral markers of systemic stress. 40 children (patients), both genders, aged 0-14 years, were included in study. Indications for minor surgical intervention were inguinal hernia or cryptorchidism. Standard blood tests and concentrations of cortisol and prolactin in serum were measured. Blood samples were taken three times: preoperatively and 1h, 24h postoperatively. Our results showed that minor surgical intervention in children causes classical humoral stress response accompanied by increase of cortisol and prolactin serum levels. No significant differences in cortisol and prolactin levels in relation to age and type of surgery were found. Statistically significant negative correlation between levels of prolactin and children's age was found. Conclusion: Minor surgical intervention in children causes statistically significant increase in humoral markers of systemic stress response. Levels of prolactin during minor surgical interventions, as a marker of psychological stress, decrease with children's age increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]