Plasma Volume During Surgery in Unsupplemented Glucocorticoid-Treated Patients

Abstract

Changes in plasma volume and plasma cortisol concentrations were investigated in seven unsupplemented and three supplemented glucocorticoid-treated patients and in eight control patients subjected to abdominal surgery. No differences in postoperative plasma volume deficit could be demonstrated between normal and glucocorticoidtreated patients, or between patients with a normal or an impaired adrenocortical response to surgery. These results may lend further support to observations indicating that arterial hypotension during operation in glucocorticoid-treated patients is not caused by adrenocortical insufficiency.