In addition to preventing physical injury,
certain anaesthetics may reduce or block activation
of the hypothalamo–pituitary–interrenal (HPI) axis
associated with handling stress. Failure to suppress
activation of the HPI axis during stress results in a
release of cortisol, which in turn causes various
secondary stress responses, including increases in
circulating levels of glucose and lactate (Rotllant et al.
2001; Skjervold et al. 1999).