Laparoscopy and the laryngeal mask airway?

circulating cortisol concentration was found during surgery with the combined technique as retrobulbar block had denervated the eye. Our conclusion was not that retrobulbar block failed to prevent a stress response; indeed it obviously does block the endocrine and metabolic response to cataract surgery. The major finding was that, despite an obviously adequate retrobulbar block preventing the stress response to surgery, on waking from anaesthesia, an increase in cortisol concentration occurred in a pain-free patient.