[SEX DIFFERENCES IN PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO PAIN THROUGHOUT SURGICAL PROCEDURES].

BACKGROUND: Recent research has shown that women and men respond differently to pain, and that biological mechanisms partially moderate sex-related differences in pain sensitivity. Previous pain studies regarding the relationship between pain and physiological aspects, such as brain function and hormone levels, have demonstrated gender differences. In this study we examined whether male and female autonomic reactivity patterns to pain, defined as increases in heart rate and blood pressure, differ throughout anesthetized abdominal surgical procedures.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 50 patients: 25 male and 25 female patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy surgeries and had intraoperative sympathetic response to surgical stimulation and were defined as patients who had an increase of 20% in heart rate or blood pressure at surgical incision. Baseline blood pressure and heart rate data, as well as blood pressure and heart rate measurements following surgical incision were gathered. Baseline data was compared to post surgical incision data, in order to evaluate whether blood pressure and heart rate change patterns differ amongst men and women.

RESULTS: Demographic data between groups was analyzed according to the T - Test. Significant difference in demographic data was observed in weight. Average changes in mean, systolic diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, were analyzed according to Wilcoxon Rank Scores. No significant differences in any variable were found between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS: In order to confirm our hypothesis as to whether the autonomic nerve system, such as heart rate and blood pressure reactivity, may partially moderate sexrelated differences to pain, a large prospective study with a standardized anesthesia protocol is needed.