Intermediary metabolism

In humans, chemical unity in diversity prevails as metabolic pathways are coordinated, regulated, and integrated to protect the body against metabolic catastrophes. The end product of one metabolic pathway is connected to another metabolic pathway of the same or another metabolite. A basic understanding of the normal metabolic pathways and their abnormality is the foundation in the management of patients subjected to the stress of anaesthesia and surgery. Objective clinical evaluation, investigations, and perioperative risk stratification of patients are based on understanding the fundamentals of intermediate metabolism.