Rapid preparation of a patient with pheochromocytoma with labetolol and magnesium sulfate

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the rapid perioperative optimization and control of blood pressure in a young patient who presented with pheochromocytoma. He was non-compliant with phenoxybenzamine but insisted on early surgery. He was scheduled for laparoscopic resection of the tumour.

Clinical features: This 32-yr-old man presented with uncontrolled hypertension for a few years for which he was treated with nifedipine. He subsequently defaulted follow-up. The patient presented again approximately three months from the day of surgery and was diagnosed to have a pheochromocytoma. The endocrinologist prescribed phenoxybenzamine and propanolol in addition to the nifedipine but the patient stopped taking both drugs six weeks prior to surgery due to their side effects. The patient was admitted the evening before surgery to the intensive care unit for rapid control of his blood pressure. Blood pressure was optimized with an infusion of labetolol and volume expansion titrated under central venous catheter and intraarterial blood pressure guidance throughout the night. On the morning of surgery, a magnesium sulfate infusion was started. The laparoscopic surgery proceeded uneventfully and the patient was hemodynamically stable. There were two transient periods of hypotension after induction and at removal of tumour respectively which were corrected with a brief adrenaline infusion. No adverse outcome was noted.

Conclusion: This case highlights the possibility of a more rapid perioperative control of pheochromocytoma using high doses of labetolol and a magnesium sulfate infusion to achieve stable intraoperative hemodynamics during laparoscopic resection of pheochromocytoma.