[Perioperative course of 17 cases of pheochromocytoma]

We analysed the perioperative course of 17 surgeries in 16 patients with pheochromocytoma between January 1981 and February 1995. The proportion of women was high (14/16 = 88%). All patients, except one, had hypertension (in three it was only sporadic). Twelve patients had complications or associated diseases. In 13 cases the pheochromocytoma was diagnosed before the operation: they were given preoperative pharmacological protection. The intraoperative monitoring included ECG, invasive blood pressure, CVP and when considered useful, a pulmonary catheter. During tumor handling, the increase in arterial pressure reached a higher level (p < 0.01) in the patients who did not receive preoperative adrenergic blockade versus those who did receive it (p < 0.05). Intraoperative nitroprussiate was needed in 13 cases (76%). Following tumour removal five patients required vasopressor support. One patient died two weeks after surgery due to septic shock. In the postoperative period eight patients had hypokalemia, a complication which has not been reported previously.