[Prazosin in the preoperative management of patients with phaeochromocytoma]

The use of prazosin--a drug selectively blocking alpha-adrenergic receptors--was considered for the preoperative management of patients with phaeochromocytoma. Prazosin was administered to 8 patients in whom the diagnosis was established basing on the clinical symptoms and daily excretion of catecholamines and their metabolites with the urine. Preliminary diagnosis was subsequently confirmed operationally. Prazosin could be considered effective only in the part of treated patients. This was manifested by the drop in blood pressure to nearly normal values and diminished attacks. However, prazosin did not prevent blood pressure increase during anaesthesia and surgery. The use of prazosin in patients with phaeochromocytoma for preoperative management may be an alternative pharmacological therapy producing appropriate drop in blood pressure in some patients.