Anesthetic management of laparoscopic pheochromocytoma excision in a patient with a Fontan circulation: a case report

Anesthetic management of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma for patients with Fontan circulation: a case series

BACKGROUND

Anesthetic management of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma with Fontan circulation is challenging for physicians, with attention to cardiovascular physiology.

CASE PRESENTATION

We performed anesthetic management for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma in three patients with Fontan circulation. We maintained intraoperative central venous pressure at preoperative level under fluid infusion and administrating nitric oxide to decrease pulmonary arterial resistance. We administered noradrenaline or vasopressin if low blood pressure was present despite adequate central venous pressure. Although noradrenaline is prevalent for the case of noradrenaline-secreting tumor especially after resection, we could maintain blood pressure to administrate vasopressin without increasing central venous pressure. Retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach which could avoid intra-abdominal adhesions might be selectable as case 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Sophisticated management is required for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma with Fontan circulation.

Laparoscopic surgery in a child with a failing Fontan circulation

A child with early failure of a Fontan circulation was listed for cardiac transplantation and then developed a subhepatic abscess. Surgical drainage was deemed necessary after the failure of an attempted percutaneous procedure. Following a multidisciplinary discussion, a laparoscopic technique was chosen to optimise postoperative recovery. To our knowledge, the literature does not describe any case of laparoscopic surgery in a patient with a failing Fontan circulation. This case report highlights the physiological variations involved with this management strategy, discusses the implications and risks, and offers some recommendations.

A case report of Fontan procedure-related hepatocellular carcinoma: pure laparoscopic approach by low and stable pneumoperitoneum

Background

The Fontan procedure has become the standard operation for patients with single ventricle physiology. Due to cardiac hypokinesis and high central venous pressure, laparoscopic approach, especially in hepatectomy, was considered as controversial after the Fontan procedure. We presented a case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that was successfully treated by pure laparoscopic hepatectomy with stable pneumoperitoneum after the Fontan procedure.

Case presentation

An 18-year-old man was referred to our hospital for examination of a hepatic tumor. The patient underwent the Fontan procedure for single ventricle physiology at 6 years of age. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a hypovascular mass in segment 2 and a hypervascular mass in segment 4 of the arterial phase, followed by a delayed washout. CT arteriography revealed that both masses showed hypervascular tumors, and CT during arterial portography showed that both were low-density masses. The patient’s general condition was good, and cardiac and respiratory functions were well maintained. Pure laparoscopic hepatectomy was safely performed by keeping the pneumoteritoneum pressure under 6–8 mmHg and monitoring central venous pressure (11–21 mmHg) and end-tidal carbon dioxide. The Pringle maneuver was applied during hepatic resection. The non-anatomical resections were completed without intraoperative complications. The patient was discharged on the 9th postoperative day without postoperative complications.

Conclusions

Our report suggests that treatment of HCC by pure laparoscopic hepatectomy after Fontan circulation can be safely performed in patients under sufficient circulatory management.

Anesthetic Management of Pheochromocytoma Resection in Adults with Single Ventricle Physiology

Survival rates for patients with palliated congenital heart disease are increasing, and an increasing number of adults with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) might require surgical resection of pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma (PHEO-PGL). A recent study supports the idea that patients with a history of CCHD and current or historical cyanosis might be at increased risk for developing PHEO-PGL. We review the anesthetic management of two adults with single-ventricle physiology following Fontan palliation presenting for PHEO-PGL resection and review prior published case reports. We found the use of epidural analgesia to be safe and effective in the operative and postoperative management of our patients.