Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of postoperative pain on plasma cortisol and preoperative scalp nerve block on reducing postoperative stress after clipping of intracranial aneurysm. Methods Forty-six ASA I-Ⅲ patients aged 19-65 yr undergoing clipping of cerebral aneurysms were recruited and randomly divided into a preoperative scalp nerve block group (group N) and a control group (group M) with 23 in each group. The patients in the group N received scalp nerve block with 0.5% Ropivacaine after induction while those in the group M did not. The concentration of plasma cortisol was measured before induction and 2, 6, 12 and 24 h after surgery, and Visual Analgesia Scale (VAS) and side effects were evaluated at the same time. Results Postoperative VAS scores were significantly lower in the group N than in the group M at 2, 6 and 12 h after surgery (P < 0.05). The plasma level of corticosteroid was noticeably increased after surgery compared to that before general anesthesia induction intubation in both groups (P < 0.05). But the plasma level of cortisol was noticeably lower in the group N than in the group M at 2-12 h after surgery (P < 0.05). Conclusions Preoperative scalp nerve block with 0.5% Ropivacaine provides effective postoperative analgesia and may depress stress action after craniotomy.