CHANGES IN VITAL FUNCTIONS DURING GASTROSCOPY -ASSESSMENT ON BLOOD BIOCHEMISTRY-

Abstract

There are many reports concerning the influence of endoscopic examination on cardiovascular system, but no reports seem to have studied on blood biochemistry. The levels of serum cortisol, plasma ACTH, plasma adrenalin, plasma noradrenalin, serum free fatty acid, serum gastrin, serum blood sugar and serum insulin were measured before and after endoscopic procedures. The first blood sample was collected just after injection of anticholinergic agents, and the second sample was collected at 10 minutes after procedures. The levels of serum cortisol, plasma adrenalin and serum free fatty acid were significantly higher in the second sample than in the first. The serum cortisol levels in the peptic ulcer group and the psychically neurotic group showed more significant increase in the second sample than in the first. These facts suggest that gastroscopic examination affects patients by conciderable emotional and/or physical stress. To safely perform endoscopic examination, endoscopists should pay attention to the changes of various vital functions, especially changes in blood biochemistry as well as cardiovascular system.