**3.6 Response to surgical stress**

The degree of stress derived from surgery and anesthesia is directly related to the quality of postoperative analgesia, especially in children with comorbidities. Hormones related to the stress response, such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, ACTH, prolactin, and blood glucose levels, are produced in lower amounts after SA due to an interruption in the transmission of pain in the afferent and efferent nerve pathways. These hormone values return to their preoperative baseline values within 24 hours [11].
