Effects of Chemical Restraint and Anesthesia on Blood Glucose Levels

Although it is not a direct cardiovascular effect, almost every pharmacological agent used for restraint and/or anesthesia has been shown to be associated with changes in blood glucose levels. These changes are frequently linked to responses mediated by pancreatic or other insulin mechanisms, autonomic nervous system responses and/or adrenal gland responses. It is well accepted that there is a great deal of dependency and interaction among these various physiological control systems. There is also little question that these responses play a role in cardiovascular function. This role has not been completely quantitated nor even described qualitatively in detail. The purpose of this chapter is only to emphasize that the agents discussed can cause physiological adjustments that could interfere with the basic mechanism under study. This could result in erroneous conclusions by the investigator.