Growth hormone response to gastrectomy.

Abstract

The fluctuation of the plasma level of human growth hormone (HGH), in relation to blood sugar and plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels, was investigated, both before and after surgery, in thirty-four subjects, who had received gastrectomy due to either peptic ulcer or gastric cancer. The level of HGH was markedly elevated immediately after the commencement of surgery and arrived at a peak after 30 to 60 minutes. Thereafter the level gradually fell despite the continuation of surgery. Up untill the seventh postoperative day the levels during fasting showed no marked fluctuation. These HGH fluctuations bore no definite relationship to the nature of intra-operative infusions, age, sex, obsity or magnitude of surgical stress. From the fact that the elevation of NEFA release followed the elevation of HGH, it is recognized that increased release of HGH upon surgical stress greatly contributes to fat metabolism during this period. It is also suggested that the release of HGH might induce a fall in glucose utilization resulting a diabetogenicity immediately after surgical stress.