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British Journal of Anaesthesia, 1985, Vol. 57, No. 8 770-774
© 1985 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia

research-article

MEASUREMENT OF PLASMA CATECHOLAMINE CONCENTRATIONS

An Assessment of Anxiety

D. FELL, F.F.A.R.C.S, D. R. DERBYSHIRE, F.F.A.R.CS, C.J.D. MAILE, F.F.A.R.C.S, I.-M. LARSSON, M.D*,, R. ELLIS, F.F.A.R.C.S{dagger},, K. J. ACHOLA, B.SC., M.SC and G. SMITH, M.D.,F.F.A.R.C.S

Department of Anaesthesia, Leicester Royal Infirmary Leicester LEI 5WW

Correspondence to G. S.

This study was designed to assess the value of measurement of plasma catecholamine concentrations as an objective index of anxiety. A preliminary study was undertaken on 11 healthy volunteers (medically qualified), to determine if venous cannulation per se produced any change in plasma catecholamine concentrations. There were no changes in plasma catecholamine concentrations in the 2 h following insertion of an i.v. cannula, suggesting that venous cannulation did not induce a measurable stress response. A second study was performed on 48 surgical patients who were asked to rate their perceived anxiety on a linear analogue scale immediately before premedication and immediately before induction of anaesthesia. Venous blood was obtained at the same time as these ratings. There were no significant changes in perceived anxiety or plasma noradrenaline concentrations following premedication. However, compared with values before premedication, there was a mean percentage increase in plasma adrenaline concentration of 40%before induction of anaesthesia. A significant correlation was shown between mean percentage change in Linear Analogue Anxiety Score and mean percentage change in plasma adrenaline concentrations (r = 0.32).

*present addresses: Department of Anaesthesia, Centralasarettet, Vasteras, 7291, Sweden

{dagger}Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Anesthesiology, P.O. Box 6 95, Richmond, Virginia 23298, U.S.A.


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