Patients scheduled for open colorectal cancer surgery were randomly allocated to receive general anesthesia (CON group, n=22) or general anesthesia with thoracic epidural anesthesia (EPI group, n=21). Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery (LAP group, n=20) composed the third arm of the study. Measurement of perioperative changes in several hormones and cytokines were blinded to group assignment.
Primary outcome: Compare simultaneously two types of surgical and anesthesia techniques for colorectal cancer surgery and measure to what extent the stress response is lessened.
