Morphine Anesthesia Blocks Cortisol and Growth Hormone Response to Surgical Stress in Humans

Abstract

Because of the increasing use of morphine anesthesia for open-heart surgery and the known ability of the drug to inhibit ACTH release, we have studied the effect of morphine anesthesia on plasma cortisol and growth hormone response to major surgery. In patients receiving 1 mg/kg morphine anesthesia the normal rise in plasma cortisol in response to major abdominal surgery was suppressed. This was also true in patients receiving 4 mg/kg morphine as anesthesia for open-heart surgery. In the latter group the normal rise in serum growth hormone was suppressed as well. This suppression of cortisol and growth hormone response during morphine anesthesia caused no clinically observable ill effect and could be reversed with ACTH.