The effects of anesthesia and surgery can lead to stress responses that result in hormonal and metabolic changes in the body. The immune system and the nervous system communicate both ways, and it was found that nociception and proinflammatory cytokines play a joint regulatory role, i.e., increased production of proinflammatory cytokines can worsen the pain. Major surgery can trigger the release of cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α.~The acute analgesic effect of ketamine is generally believed to be mediated through the blockade of the phencyclidine binding site of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor of nociceptive neurons. Ketamine can reduce the inflammatory response marked by a decrease in CRP levels to surgical trauma and can prevent secondary damage to tissues/organs that were not initially affected by surgery by reducing inflammation. This also reduces postoperative pain and analgesics.
The effects of anesthesia and surgery can lead to stress responses that result in hormonal and metabolic changes in the body. The immune system and the nervous system communicate both ways, and it was found that nociception and proinflammatory cytokines play a joint regulatory role, i.e., increased production of proinflammatory cytokines can worsen the pain. Major surgery can trigger the release of cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α.