[The effect of anesthesia on the postoperative behavior of liver enzymes and protein fractions]

Abstract

Liver tests were performed postoperatively on 25 women with "healthy" livers. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the type of anesthesia used: 1. halothane; 2. neuroleptic; 3. peridural. In all 3 groups the variations in serum proteins and liver enzymes were similar up to the 15th postoperative day. Variations of LDH, AP, LAP, and CHE were within normal range; slight to moderate increases above normal were observed for GPT, GOT, GLDH, and gamma-GT. All 3 groups barely differ with respect to enzyme levels during the postoperative course. We therefore interpret these changes to indicate a reaction of the liver to the stress of operation rather than to the mode of anesthesia.