Hypertensive crisis immediately after complete removal of phaeochromocytoma

A hypertensive crisis with an arterial blood pressure of 280/180 mmHg developed immediately after an apparently successful removal of a phaeochromocytoma. The blood pressure could not be lowered by phentolamine and not until the administration of dihydralazine and furosemide was the systemic pressure normalized. In addition to residual high concentrations of vasoactive substances, the hypertension may have been due to an overloaded vascular bed. Careful peroperative volume substitution in patients treated preoperatively with modern sympathetic blocking agents appears to be of great importance.