What is the Origin of Surgical Stress Response?

This concept is a cornerstone of surgical physiology, detailing the body's generalized reaction to physical injury and its subsequent efforts to maintain homeostasis under duress. The term is rooted in the recognition of the predictable pattern of hormonal release that follows any significant surgical insult.

What is the Mechanism of Surgical Stress Response?

Nociceptive and inflammatory signals from the wound site activate the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system. This leads to a massive release of counter-regulatory hormones, including cortisol, catecholamines, and glucagon, while anabolic hormones like insulin and testosterone are suppressed. Cortisol promotes gluconeogenesis and protein breakdown to provide energy substrates, while catecholamines increase heart rate and blood pressure, ensuring adequate tissue perfusion during the acute post-operative phase.

Surgical Stress Response

Meaning

The Surgical Stress Response is the immediate, systemic neuroendocrine and metabolic reaction triggered by operative trauma and tissue injury, characterized by a rapid, catabolic hormonal surge. This response is an innate, protective mechanism designed to mobilize energy reserves and initiate the acute inflammatory cascade necessary for wound healing and survival. The magnitude and duration of this response are proportional to the invasiveness of the procedure.