Table 3. Comparison of pre- and postoperative pain mediator indexes.
| Variables | Subxiphoid group (n=54) | Control group (n=54) | t-value | p |
| Mean±SD | Mean±SD | |||
| 5-HT (ng/L) | ||||
| D1 (preoperative) | 157.5±96.3 | 147.0±96.4 | 0.566 | 0.573 |
| D1 | 214.5±107.7 | 272.1±116.0 | -2.678 | 0.009 |
| D7 | 184.8±100.9 | 228.4±73.4 | -2.565 | 0.012 |
| PGE2 (pg/mL) | ||||
| D1 (preoperative) | 144.5±42.4 | 126.9±57.2 | 1.818 | 0.072 |
| D1 | 230.4±36.7 | 277.8±63.1 | -4.763 | <0.001 |
| D7 | 176.4±39.0 | 200.8±51.4 | -2.782 | 0.006 |
| ACTH (ng/mL) | ||||
| D1 (preoperative) | 27.3±19.0 | 30.9±20.2 | -0.967 | 0.336 |
| D1 | 48.7±24.0 | 61.4±23.0 | -2.808 | 0.006 |
| D7 | 36.0±19.2 | 52.2±25.9 | -3.698 | <0.001 |
| NPY (pg/L) | ||||
| D1 (preoperative) | 127.0±33.0 | 116.9±33.4 | 1.578 | 0.118 |
| D1 | 171.6±31.0 | 187.6±47.5 | -2.075 | 0.040 |
| D7 | 129.0±36.3 | 153.9±45.0 | -3.163 | 0.002 |
| SD: Standard deviation; 5-HT: 5-hydroxytryptamine; D1: First day after surgery; D7: Seventh day after surgery; PGE2: Prostaglandin E2; ACTH: Adrenocorticotropic hormone; NPY: Neuropeptide Y. | ||||