Predictors of hemodynamic instability in patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma

Intraoperative hemodynamic instability is common in patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. The aim of this study was to identify the predictive risk factors of intraoperative hemodynamic instability.

A total of 428 patients having elective resection of pheochromocytoma and/or paraganglioma at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2014 and July 2019 were included. The association between preoperative parameters and the incidence of intraoperative hemodynamic instability were evaluated. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the predictive risk factors of hemodynamic instability.

Patients with intraoperative hemodynamic instability were more prone to have elevated levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine. Binary Logistic regression showed the risk factors of hemodynamic instability were tumor size >5.0 cm (odds ratio [OR], 1.889; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.243-2.870; P = .003) and five-fold increases of urine epinephrine (OR, 2.195; 95% CI, 1.242-3.880; P = .007).

Intraoperative hemodynamic instability is common despite adequate preoperative medical treatment. Tumor size and high level of urinary epinephrine are tumor-related factors for intraoperative hemodynamic instability. Identifying these factors can help clinicians to manage patients more effectively and improve patients' outcomes.