Preoperative risk factors for massive blood loss in adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma

Hemorrhage in pheochromocytoma surgery: evaluation of preoperative risk factors

OBJECTIVE

Pheochromocytoma surgery carries a higher risk of hemorrhage. Our objective was to identify preoperative risk factors for hemorrhage during pheochromocytoma surgery.

METHODS

Patients who underwent surgery and with postoperative pathological confirmation were enrolled. A total of 251 patients from our center were included in the investigation, and 120 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University were included as an external validation dataset. Family and medical history, demographics, hemodynamics, biochemical parameters, image data, anesthesia and operation records, postoperative outcomes were collected. Postoperative complications were graded by the Clavien-Dindo classification. Correlation between intraoperative hemorrhage volume and postoperative outcomes was assessed. The features associated with intraoperative hemorrhage were identified by linear regression. All features that were statistically significant in the multiple linear regression were then used to construct models and nomograms for predicting intraoperative hemorrhage. The constructed models were evaluated by Akaike Information Criterion. Finally, internal and external validations were carried out by tenfold cross-validation.

RESULTS

Intraoperative hemorrhage volume was positively correlated with the postoperative hospitalization time (R = 0.454, P < 0.001) and the Clavien-Dindo grades (R = 0.664, P < 0.001). Features associated with intraoperative hemorrhage were male gender (β = 0.533, OR = 1.722, P = 0.002), tumor diameter (β = 0.027, OR = 1.027, P < 0.001), preoperative CCB use (β = 0.318, OR = 1.308, P = 0.123) and open surgery (β = 1.175, OR = 3.234, P < 0.001). Validations showed reliable results (internal (R = 0.612, RMSE = 1.355, MAE = 1.111); external (R = 0.585, RMSE = 1.398, MAE = 0.964)).

CONCLUSION

More intraoperative hemorrhage is correlated with longer postoperative hospitalization time and more severe postoperative complications. Male gender, larger tumor, preoperative CCB use and open surgery are preoperative risk factors for hemorrhage in PCC surgery.

Changes in the Size of a Ruptured Pheochromocytoma after Transcatheter Arterial Embolization

The spontaneous rupture of a pheochromocytoma is rare and can be potentially fatal. We report a case of a tumor size reduction of a ruptured pheochromocytoma after transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). A 60-year-old Japanese woman was referred to the emergency department of another hospital with a sudden onset of left lateral pain. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed adrenal hemorrhage with a 5.7 cm adrenal mass, and she was transferred to our hospital for treatment. Considering that she had marked hypertension (193/115 mmHg), we made a provisional diagnosis of left lateral pain due to a ruptured pheochromocytoma. She underwent TAE, and the hemorrhage was successfully controlled. She was started on oral doxazosin for hypertension. The dose of doxazosin was increased to the extent that orthostatic hypotension did not develop, and blood pressure was well controlled. After discharge, the tumor size gradually decreased to approximately 1.0 cm within six months. Six months after TAE, elective laparoscopic surgery was performed, and the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology. We observed a decrease in the size of the ruptured pheochromocytoma after TAE. To reduce the risk of laparoscopic adrenal surgery, it may be useful to monitor the size of a ruptured pheochromocytoma after TAE before deciding the surgery time.

A Predictive Nomogram for Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Pheochromocytoma Surgery: A Study on Improving the Preoperative Management of Pheochromocytoma

Purpose

Surgery is the major treatment option for pheochromocytoma but carries potential risks, including hemorrhage and hemodynamic instability. Even with laparoscopic adrenalectomy, intraoperative blood transfusion happens from time to time, but few studies have investigated risk factors. For the first time we develop and validate a nomogram for prediction of red blood cell transfusion in pheochromocytoma surgery.

Methods

There were 246 patients in our center and 56 patients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, who underwent pheochromocytoma surgery, enrolled in the study. We incorporated clinical and radiological risk factors, and presented this with a nomogram. Lasso regression model was used for feature selection. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the odd ratios. The performance of the nomogram was assessed with respect to its discrimination, calibration and clinical usefulness.

Results

Thirty-two features were reduced to five, which were phenoxybenzamine use, phenoxybenzamine treatment duration, preinduction heart rate, tumor diameter and surgical procedure. The model showed good discrimination (C-index, 0.857; 95% CI, 0.781-0.836) and application in the validation sets also gave good discrimination (internal validation: C-index, 0.831; 95% CI, 0.750-0.822; external validation: C-index, 0.924; 95% CI, 0.766-1.000). Calibration tested with the Hosmer-Lemeshow test yielded a good agreement between prediction and observation (training P=0.358; internal validation P=0.205; external validation P=0.395). Odd ratios of phenoxybenzamine use, phenoxybenzamine treatment duration, preinduction HR, tumor diameter and open surgery were 13.32 (95% CI, 1.48-197.38; P = 0.034), 1.04 (95% CI, 0.99-1.08; P = 0.092), 1.04 (95% CI, 1.01-1.08; P=0.006), 1.03 (95% CI, 1.02-1.06; P<0.001), 17.13 (95% CI, 5.18-78.79; P<0.001), respectively. Decision curve analysis demonstrated the clinical usefulness of the nomogram.

Conclusions

This study presents a nomogram that may be used to facilitate the prediction of red blood cell transfusion in pheochromocytoma surgery and help to do the preoperative management more efficiently.

Risk Predictors of Prolonged Hypotension After Open Surgery for Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas

BACKGROUND

Prolonged hypotension is a common complication after surgery for pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). It places patients at an increased risk of major morbidities and even death. The objective of the study was to investigate the risk predictors of prolonged hypotension in patients undergoing open surgery for PPGLs.

METHODS

The present study adopted a retrospective, single-center design. Patients who underwent open surgery for PPGLs were enrolled from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2018, at Peking University First Hospital. Perioperative variables were screened from patients' electronic medical records. Prolonged hypotension was defined as hypotension that required continuous catecholamine support for at least 30 min to maintain a systolic blood pressure of > 90 mmHg after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 162 patients were included in the study. Fifty-two patients (31.1%) had prolonged hypotension with a median vasopressor support duration of 14 h (IQR = 4-30 h). Body mass index <24 kg/m² (OR = 3.015, 95% CI 1.217-7.467; P = 0.017), larger tumor size (OR = 1.146, 95% CI 1.014-1.295; P = 0.029), and higher plasma norepinephrine concentration (OR = 1.053, 95% CI 1.019-1.087; P = 0.002) were associated with prolonged hypotension. Patients with prolonged hypotension had a higher incidence of complication, were more frequently admitted to the intensive care unit, underwent mechanical ventilation for a longer duration, and had a longer postoperative hospital stay when compared to those without.

CONCLUSION

Body mass index < 24 kg/m², larger tumor size, and higher plasma norepinephrine concentration are independent risk predictors of prolonged hypotension in patients undergoing open surgery for PPGLs.

Internal validation and decision curve analysis of a preoperative nomogram predicting a postoperative complication in pheochromocytoma surgery: An international study

OBJECTIVES

To develop a preoperative nomogram that would predict the risk of a postoperative complication for pheochromocytoma patients undergoing adrenalectomy using an international database.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed preoperative variables and postoperative outcomes in patients who underwent adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma in three institutions from 2000 to 2017. Internal validation of a generated nomogram was carried out with receiver operating characteristics, calibration plots, and decision curve analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 153 patients who had undergone 166 adrenalectomies were included in the study. Overall, post-adrenalectomy complications were seen in 30% of patients, whereas 9.6% of patients sustained a Clavien ≥3a complication. Independent predictors of a complication were a history of hypertension, body mass index, tumor size, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score. On internal validation, the multivariable model generated a nomogram that predicted a postoperative complication or clinically hemodynamic event with an area under the curve of 0.86, showed good calibration and had an overall net benefit.

CONCLUSIONS

An internally validated nomogram combining body mass index, Charlson Comorbidity Index score and tumor size can predict the probability of a post-adrenalectomy complication in those with and without hypertension. The model, the first of its kind in pheochromocytoma surgery, identifies patients at risk of a postoperative complication at the time of their presentation with pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytoma Characteristics and Behavior Differ Depending on Method of Discovery

CONTEXT

Modern pheochromocytomas (PHEOs) are often discovered by incidental finding on cross-sectional imaging or mutation-based genetic case detection testing. Little is known about how these PHEOs behave.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the characteristics and behavior of PHEOs discovered incidentally on imaging or through mutation-based genetic case detection testing.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Referral center.

PATIENTS

Consecutive patients with pathology-confirmed PHEOs, treated from 2005 to 2016.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Tumor size, plasma/urine fractionated metanephrines and catecholamines, and preoperative management.

RESULTS

Two hundred seventy-one patients (52% women, median age 52.0 years) presented with 296 PHEOs. Discovery method was most often incidental finding on cross-section imaging (61%) rather than PHEO-related symptoms (27%) or mutation-based case detection testing (12%). Patients with incidentally discovered PHEOs were older than symptomatic and mutation-based case detection testing patients (median age 56.6 vs 43 vs 35 years, P < 0.0001). Mutation-based case detection PHEOs were smaller than those discovered due to symptoms (median size 29.0 vs 50.5 mm, P = 0.0027). Patients with PHEOs discovered due to symptoms had the highest median concentration of 24-hour urinary metanephrines and total plasma metanephrines (P < 0.0001). These patients required a higher cumulative phenoxybenzamine dose than patients with incidental or case detection PHEO (median 450 vs 375 vs 270 mg, P = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

PHEOs are primarily discovered due to incidental finding on cross-sectional imaging rather than PHEO-related symptoms. PHEOs discovered through mutation-based genetic case detection testing were smaller and required less α-adrenergic blockade preoperatively compared with PHEOs found due to symptoms, which supports routine case detection testing for patients genetically predisposed for PHEOs.

Tumor characteristics and surgical outcome in incidentally discovered pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas

OBJECTIVE

The proportion of incidentally discovered pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas(PPGL) has increased over time. However, our knowledge of them is quite limited. The purpose of this retrospective study is to generalize the commonalities in incidentally discovered PPGL, offer evidences for clinical diagnosis and management.

METHODS

526 patients were included in our study after filtration from the database of West China Hospital of Sichuan University between May, 2007 and December, 2016.Among the patients, 148 of them were incidental findings and 378 of them were suspected findings. All patients' demography and tumor characteristics were recorded in detail, especially hemodynamic records and hormonal assays. The reasons for taking radiography were also collected. Most patients received preoperative medical preparation . Intraoperative and postoperative courses as well as surgical outcomes were also analyzed to identify differences between incidental findings and suspected findings.

RESULTS

Incidentally discovered PPGL took up 28.1% of the study population. Suspected PPGLs had a higher prevalence of hypertension, lower proportion of non-functioning PPGL, higher prevalence of MEN2 and better post-surgical blood pressure recovery than incidental finding group. However, patients in the incidental finding group showed no significant difference in preoperative blood pressure and hormonal assays with suspected findings in metaphrine and normetaphrine in plasma and urine (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the development of technology, more PPGLs are discovered incidentally. Considering the tumor characteristics and surgical outcome, surgical decisions should be made more cautiously.