A case of temporary cardiac arrest following sudden fluctuation of blood pressure after initiation of pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenal pheochromocytoma

Abstract

A 75-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a complaint of difficulty swallowing and was diagnosed with left medullary infarction. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right adrenal tumor, 4 cm in size, and a left adrenal tumor, 1.6 cm in size. Abnormally high concentrations of serum catecholamine and urinary total metanephrine were also observed. In addition, 131I-MIBG scintigraphy revealed an abnormal accumulation of 1311 in both tumors, which comprehensively led to the diagnosis of bilateral pheochromocytoma. Laparoscopic right adrenalectomy was planned first. After initiating pneumoperitoneum, the systolic blood pressure rose to 270 mmHg. Pneumoperitoneum was suspended briefly, and once resumed, the patient's blood pressure dropped gradually and was followed by cardiac arrest. A decision was made to interrupt surgery and start cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Once blood pressure stabilized above 160 mmHg, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit with intubation. Subsequently, blood pressure was controlled to around 140 mmHg. He was discharged on the eleventh day after surgery without any major complications. Currently, he is being managed with more aggressive antihypertensive drug treatment.