¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To evaluate the influence of different anesthetic techniques on the plasma levels of interleukinª²6 (ILª²6), interleukinª²8 (ILª²8) and interleukinª²10 (ILª²10) in patients undergoing major upper abdominal surgery. METHODS: Thirtyª²two ASA¢ñ-¢ò patients scheduled for major upper abdominal surgery were randomly divided into two groups: General anesthesia group (GA group, n=16), in which anesthesia was induced with fentanyl, propofol and vecuronium and maintained with fentanyl and vecuronium as well as enflurane inhalation. General combined epidural anesthesia group (GEA group, n=16): In which general anesthesia was used as in group GA and epidural block with 15 g/L lidocaine was performed before induction. The levels of plasma ILª²10, ILª²6 and ILª²8 were determined with an enzymeª²linked immunosorbent assay at preanesthsia, 0, 2 and 4 h during surgery and at the end of the surgery, followed by sampling on the morning of the first day and the third day postoperatively. RESULTS: Before anesthesia and 0 h of the surgery, no ILª²10 was detected. In all the patients, the plasma levels of ILª²10 showed significant elevations and achieved maximal value 4 h after the skin incision. The plasma levels of ILª²10 returned to preanesthesia levels on the third day postoperatively. The plasma levels of ILª²6 and ILª²8 also increased in the preioperative period. The plasma ILª²10 levels of group GEA were significantly lower than those of group GA on 4 h after the skin incision and the first day postoperatively. CONCLUSION: General anesthesia combined epidural block has a better inhibitory effect on the stress response in major upper abdominal surgery and may prevent the increase of inflammatory cytokine in the perioperative period. ......