Korean J Gastrointest Endosc.  1988 Nov;8(2):121-126.

Response of the Sympathetic System During and After Fiberoptic Gastroscopy

• Yoon SO
• Kim EJ
• Ko W
• Kim SW

Abstract

Cardiovascular changes induced by a variety of physiological, surgical or emotional stresses are associated with increased sympathetic nervous system activtity. Sympathetic stimulation lowers the ventricular resistance in patients with ischemic heart disease. Thus sympathoadrenal aetivation may play role in sudden cardiac death. We measured the catecholamine levels just before and after fiberoptic gastroscopy, The results were as follows: 1) Though there was no statistical significance, plama catecholamine levels tends to increase during and after fiberoptic gastroscopy. 2) Significant changes in mean blood pressure did not occur during and after fiberoptic gastroscopy. 3) Before fiberoptic gastroscopy, norepinephrine level of three hypertensive patients were lower than the levels of studied patients, But during and after fiberoptic gastroacopy, norepinephrine level increased by 3 times. 4) The highest norepinephrine level was 847 pg/ml and epinephrine level was 110 pg/ml. Though sympathetic response was enhanced by fiberoptic gastroscopy, norepinephrine level did not increase up to the level shown in myocardial infarction or severe exercise.

MeSH Terms

Blood Pressure
Death, Sudden, Cardiac
Epinephrine
Gastroscopy*
Humans
Myocardial Infarction
Myocardial Ischemia
Norepinephrine
Stress, Psychological
Sympathetic Nervous System
Epinephrine
Norepinephrine