Catecholamine responses during anaesthesia for phaeochromocytoma

Plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured, at frequent intervals, in a 40-yr-old female patient undergoing resection of a phaeochromocytoma under enflurane anaesthesia. Measurements before operation revealed that the tumour secreted predominantly noradrenaline and during surgery the plasma concentration of the hormone increased markedly (180 pmol ml-1; normal range 1.5-3.0 pmol ml-1). Plasma adrenaline concentrations increased markedly only at endotracheal intubation and in the period immediately after operation.