Use of methylene blue in pheochromocytoma resection: case report

Hydroxocobalamin to treat refractory vasoplegia following phaeochromocytoma resection in a child

Phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours that often secrete catecholamines, which can cause dramatic swings in blood pressure and end‐organ damage. During surgical resection of these tumours, antihypertensive drug infusions are often required, but after resection patients may become vasoplegic, in part due to cessation of catecholamine secretion by the tumour in the context of pre‐operative α₁ adrenoceptor antagonism. Numerous medications have been used to treat vasoplegia in this setting, including noradrenaline, vasopressin and, more recently, angiotensin II. We report the case of a patient who experienced vasoplegia after phaeochromocytoma resection which was refractory to vasopressin and angiotensin II infusions but was successfully treated with high dose hydroxocobalamin.

Surgical adrenalectomy during rescue Extracorporeal Life Support for pheochromocytoma induced cardiogenic shock: a case report

Introduction : Pheochromocytoma, a rare catecholamine-producing tumor, has been described to provoke stress-induced Takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy and even severe refractory cardiogenic shock. In this case report, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) was used for hemodynamic stabilization and was continued during the resection of a large neuroendocrine tumor. Description : A 69-year old male, recently diagnosed with a pheochromocytoma, was referred to our center because of severe cardiogenic shock after induction of anesthesia for resection of the mass. Despite adequate alpha-and beta-adrenergic blockade for one month, he developed malignant hypertension with subsequently hemodynamic collapse. After successful cardiopulmonary resusci-tation he developed pulmonary oedema with severe hypoxemia and persistent hemodynamic lability. On arrival in our hospital, echocardiography revealed significant left ventricular impairment. Decision was made to commence him on VA-ECMO for a refractory cardiogenic shock with severe pulmonary oedema. Because of persistent blood pressure swings despite VA-ECMO and beta-adrenergic blockade, we decided to remove the tumor on mechanical circulatory support by an open surgical approach the next day. After clamping of the adrenal circulation, the patient experienced profound hypotension requiring high doses of epinephrine and a methylene blue infusion. Surgical resection was successful but complicated by a postoperative bleeding for which the patient underwent an emergent endovascular embolization of an adrenal artery. Over the next days, there was progressive cardiac recovery and the patient was weaned off VA-ECMO on the fourth postoperative day. The patient was discharged from the intensive care 27 days after admission and left the hospital on day 30. Discussion: VA-ECMO seems to be a feasible last resort therapy in refractory cardiogenic shock induced by pheochromocytoma crisis as suggested by a high survival rate in literature. Despite its support benefit during this type of shock, surgical removal of the tumor is rarely done with mechanical circulatory support and heparinization.

A case report of an open aortic valve replacement followed by open adrenalectomy in a patient with symptomatic pheochromocytoma and critical aortic stenosis

Background

Pheochromocytoma is a rare medical condition caused by catecholamine-secreting tumor cells. Operative resection can be associated with significant hemodynamic fluctuations due to the nature of the tumor, as well as associated post-resection vasoplegia. To allow for cardiovascular recovery before surgery, patients require pre-operative alpha-adrenergic blockade, which would be limited in the setting of co-existent severe aortic stenosis. In this report, we describe a patient with severe aortic stenosis and symptomatic pheochromocytoma.

Case presentation

A 51-year-old man with severe aortic stenosis (valve area 0.8 cm²) was found to have a highly active 4 × 4 cm left adrenal pheochromocytoma. Alpha-adrenergic blockade for his pheochromocytoma was limited by syncope in the setting of his aortic stenosis. Open aortic valve replacement (AVR) was performed, followed by adrenalectomy the next day. The perioperative course for each surgical procedure was hemodynamically volatile, exacerbated by severe alcohol withdrawal. During the adrenalectomy, cardiogenic and vasoplegic shock developed immediately after securing the vascular supply to his tumor. This shock was refractory to vasopressin and methylene blue, but responded well to angiotensin II and epinephrine. After both surgeries were completed, his course was further complicated by severe ICU psychosis, ileus, fungal bacteremia, pneumonia/hypoxic respiratory failure and atrial fibrillation. He ultimately recovered and was discharged from the hospital after 38 days.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first report of surgical AVR and pheochromocytoma resection in a patient with critical aortic stenosis. The appropriate order and timing of surgeries when both these conditions co-exist remains controversial.

Another Role for Angiotensin II?: Vasopressin-Refractory Shock After Pheochromocytoma Resection: A Case Report

A patient presented with multiple unrelated tumors and was found to have a small but functional adrenal pheochromocytoma. After pheochromocytoma resection, shock developed unresponsive to vasopressin in recommended doses (0.04 U/min infusion plus repeated 1-U boluses) but responded dramatically to an angiotensin II infusion (20 ng/kg/min) with a mean arterial pressure >100 mm Hg. The patient's blood pressure was maintained for 42 hours postoperatively with an infusion rate that ranged from 2 to 38 ng/kg/min. Because vasopressin may not always be effective for postresection shock in people with pheochromocytomas, angiotensin II may prove to be an effective alternative.

Pheochromocytoma resection: Current concepts in anesthetic management

Pheochromocytoma represents very significant challenges to the anesthetist, especially when undiagnosed. These chromaffin tissue tumors are not uncommon in anesthetic practice and have varied manifestations. The perioperative management of these tumors has improved remarkably over the years, in conjunction with the evolution of surgical techniques (open laparotomy to laparoscopic techniques and now to robotic approaches in the present day). This review attempts to comprehensively address the intraoperative and postoperative issues in the management of these challenging tumors with an emphasis on hemodynamic monitoring and anesthetic technique.

Vasopressin and methylene blue: alternate therapies in vasodilatory shock

Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is frequently complicated by vasoplegic syndrome, a vasodilatory shock state. Traditional treatment based on fluid resuscitation and catecholamine drugs is ineffective in a number of patients. Clinical trials investigating both vasopressin and methylene blue as additional rescue or preventative therapy are reviewed. Vasopressin is suggested to retain its vasoconstrictive power in hypoxemia and acidosis, lower pulmonary hypertension, reduce supraventricular arrhythmias, and accelerate intensive care unit (ICU) recovery. Safety concerns include frequent thrombocytopenia and potentially altered mesenteric and renal perfusion. Methylene blue is suggested to facilitate CPB weaning, reduce renal, respiratory, arrhythmic, and septic complications, reduce mortality, and accelerate ICU and hospital recovery. Safety concerns include oximeter interference, pulmonary hypertension, neurotoxicity, arrhythmias, and potentially altered coronary, mesenteric, and renal perfusion. Research on both molecules is ongoing and has yet to confirm on a larger scale their efficacy and safety as treatments for post-CPB vasoplegic syndrome.