Unsuspected pheochromocytoma in a surgical patient

Abstract

Hypertensive patients have been shown to have an increased incidence of cardiac arrest during operation. Additional risks may be involved, depending on the cause of the hypertension. If it is due to pheochromocytoma, there may be a fatal hypertensive crisis, arrhythmia, cerebrovascular accident, or acute left heart failure and pulmonary edema without preoperative management. These potential complications and the fact that pheochromocytoma is a correctable cause of hypertension are important reasons to exclude the presence of this tumor in hypertensive patients about to undergo anesthesia. This case report illustrates problems that may occur when this is not done.