The effect of surgery on carbohydrate metabolism. II. Insulin response during surgery.

Serum-immunoreactive insulin response on glucose load was observed during the operation of 13 patients. The tests were performed on the same patients also 5 days prior to operation. The patients were divided into two groups according to the performed operation which was either intra- or extraperitoneal. Glucose tolerance during operation remained unchanged, but the serum insulin level was considerably lower. A certain difference was detected between intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal operations in this respect, though the trend of the changes was the same. The probable pathomechanism of the lacking insulin secretion on glucose is discussed.