Cardiovascular
- ↑ catecholamines and angiotensin II:
- Peripheral vasoconstriction, hypertension & tachycardia 1
- ↑ myocardial work with precipitation of myocardial ischaemia 1
- Increased myocardial oxygen demand, increasing risk of ischemia
- Splanchnic vasoconstriction which may impact on healing of anastomoses
- ↓ cardiac muscle mass:
- Precipitation of arrhythmias 1
Endocrine
- Hyperglycaemia 1:
- Poor wound healing 1
- Wound infections 1
- Nosocomial infections
- ↑ mortality in critical illness
- Risk of iatrogenic hypoglycaemia
- Protein catabolism
- ↓ skeletal muscle mass:
- Immobility 1 - thus increasing venous thromboembolism risk
- Precipitation of respiratory failure due to loss of respiratory muscle power
Fluid & Electrolytes
- Electrolyte disturbance - due to mineralocorticoid activity
- Hypokalaemia (common) 1
- Hypernatraemia 1
- Fluid overload 1:
- Precipitation of LV failure
- Wound breakdown
- Anastomotic leak
Haematological & Immunological
- ↑ risk of DVT & PE 1
- ↑ susceptibility to infections 1