[Hemodynamic and catecholamine responses during enflurane anesthesia for pheochromocytoma]

Twelve patients underwent surgical removal of pheochromocytoma under enflurane anesthesia. Changes in systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics and plasma catecholamine level were studied during anesthesia. Anesthesia was slowly induced by face mask with nitrous oxide and enflurane with minimal circulatory changes. Tracheal intubation was smoothly performed using pancuronium or vecuronium without excessive catecholamine release and elevation of blood pressure. Although enflurane anesthesia did not inhibit catecholamine release during tumor manipulation, blood pressure and heart rate were controlled successfully with vasodilators such as phentolamine, prostaglandin E1 and nicardipine, and antiarrhythmic agents such as propranolol and lidocaine. We conclude that enflurane is an agent of choice for the resection of pheochromocytoma.