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Β-Adrenergic agonist administration is not associated with secondary carcinoid crisis in patients with carcinoid
Kristen E Limbach1, Mary E Condron1, Ann E Bingham2
1Division of Surgical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University, United States.
Background:
Patients with carcinoid tumors are at risk for profound intraoperative hypotension known as carcinoid crisis, which catecholamines are traditionally believed to trigger. However, data supporting this are lacking.
Methods:
Anesthesia records were retrospectively reviewed for carcinoid patients treated with vasopressors. Hemodynamics for those with crisis were compared between those who received β-adrenergic agonists (B-AA) versus those who did not.
Results:
Among 293 consecutive operations, 58 were marked by 161 crises. There was no significant difference in the incidence of paradoxical hypotension with B-AA compared to non-B-AA (p = 0.242). The maximum percent decrease in mean arterial pressure following drug administration was significantly greater in those patients treated with non-B-AA than with B-AA (31.6% vs. 12.5%, p < 0.0001). There were no differences in crisis duration (p = 0.257) or postoperative complication rate (p = 0.896).
Conclusions:
β-Adrenergic agonist use was not associated with paradoxical hypotension, prolonged carcinoid crisis, or postoperative complications in patients with intraoperative carcinoid crisis.
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