Insulin secretion, as expressed by peripheral plasma insulin and C-peptide levels, was studied during and after abdominal hysterectomy in six patients having general anaesthesia and in six patients having epidural analgesia. The hyperglycaemic response to surgery was abolished during epidural analgesia. Insulin as well as C-peptide levels in plasma were low and unchanged during general anaesthesia and low and slightly decreasing during epidural analgesia.
Conclusions: (1) Insulin secretion to the hyperglycaemic stimulus is blocked during surgery: (2) abolition of the hyperglycaemic response to surgery by epidural analegesia is not caused by an increased insulin secretion.