The changes in arterial keton bodies during upper abdominal surgery.

The relationship between the arterial keton body ratio (AKBR: acetoacetate/Beta-hydroxybutyrate) and the plasma hormone activities were studied under a general anesthesia using enflurane group (group G) and a GO + Epidural group (group E) with continuous glucose loading (10 g.hr(-1)) during partial gastrectomy. In both groups, the AKBR increased significantly during the operation. The plasma insulin activity was significantly positively correlated with the AKBR and it was negatively correlated with log (Beta-hydroxybutyrate) in both groups. We could not find any significant difference of the AKBR between group G and group E. Our results indicate that the plasma insulin activity affects the arterial keton body ratio and that the AKBR must be evaluated considering the plasma hormone activity, especially insulin activity during the operation.