Plasma glucagon changes in surgical patients.

We studied the effect of surgery on plasma glucagon (IRG) levels in 40 patients divided into 3 groups according to the severity of surgical stress. In the major and moderate stress groups, 30--100% IRG increases were noted one hour after the start of surgery. In these groups, IRG was increased in the lst to 7th postoperative days and there was a correlation between the amount of increase and the severity of operative stress. In the minor stress group, no postoperative IRG increase was noted. Our results indicate that the severity of operative stress had a direct bearing on the amount of intra- and postoperative IRG increase. We also discuss the origin of hyperglucagonemia in surgical patients.