The adrenal response to trauma, operation and cosyntropin stimulation.

Thirty-four patients who underwent abdominal or thoracic, or both, operation for injuries were studied. Serum and urinary cortisol levels were elevated perioperatively and returned to normal levels by the fourth postoperative day. Postoperative complication was associated with persistent elevation of levels of serum and urinary cortisol. Baseline serum cortisol levels correlated with Injury Severity Scores. Cosyntropin stimulation produced a significant rise in serum cortisol to a peak level of 47.4 +/- 10.2 (S.D.) micrograms per deciliter in patients after emergent operations for traumatic injury. Use of the cosyntropin stimulation test for the diagnosis of postoperative adrenal insufficiency can be extended to patients who undergo operation for traumatic injury.