Risk factors for postoperative cardiovascular morbidity after pheochromocytoma surgery: a large single center...

Surgical resection is the primary treatment strategy for pheochromocytoma; however, it carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality, especially with respect to cardiovascular complications, which is the most common kinds of morbidity. The risk factors for morbidity remain unclear and require further exploration, moreover no studies focus on risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity. Herein we identified the risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity after pheochromocytoma surgery in Chinese patients. We retrospectively reviewed 262 patients who underwent unilateral surgical resection of pheochromocytoma at our center between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2016. Patient demographics and extensive perioperative data were recorded and evaluated. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were determined by multivariate logistic regression. Cut-off values and the area under the curve for continuous risk factors were calculated based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the 262 patients, 63 (24.0%) had cardiovascular morbidity. The independent risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity were low body mass index, large radiographic tumor size, coronary heart disease, no preoperative crystal/colloid administration, and intraoperative hemodynamic instability; the corresponding odds ratio were 0.762 (p < 0.001), 1.208 (p = 0.010), 2.378 (p = 0.012), 2.720 (p = 0.011), and 4.764 (p = 0.001), respectively. The optimal cut-off values for body mass index and radiographic tumor size were 24.59 kg/m² and 6.05 cm. We found that cardiovascular morbidity is common in patients after pheochromocytoma surgery. We identified five independent risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity. Identification of these risk factors may help to improve treatment strategies.