Serum Cortisol levels in µg/dl (mean +/− sd) | Group A (Caudal) | Group B (Thoracic epidural) | Group C (Intravenous analgesia) | P value with in groups from base line to 12 hrs | P value between the groups |
Baseline | 24.47 (6.09) | 24.43 (6.90) | 24.73 (10.68) | 0.001 | *0.230 |
On CPB | 40.17 (13.21) | 32.03 (12.91) | 60.63 (29.24) | †0.001 | |
6 hrs after intervention | 51.03 (21.36) | 38.90 (19.56) | 75.71 (27.87) | ‡0.001 | |
12 hrs after intervention | 61.17 (33.49) | 44.20 (34.34) | 89.13 (43.20) |