Anaesthesia for phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy

Purpose: Phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy is a rare occurrence. Details of the anaesthetic are even more rarely reported, Our purpose is to describe our management with reference to previous reports. Clinical features: A 31-yr-old woman underwent resection of a phaeochromocytoma at seven weeks gestation. Preoperative preparation included 2 mg prazosin po bid and 40 mg propranolol po bid, A balanced anaesthetic technique including 5 mg midazolam, 1500 mu g alfentanil, 35 mu g sufentanil, nitrous oxide and isoflurane was used. Blood pressure was controlled with 3.4 g magnesium and 2437 mu g nitroglycerin, There were no episodes of hypertension intraoperatively. The patient made an uneventful recovery and delivered a normal baby at 37 wk gestation by caesarean section. Conclusion: Anaesthesia for resection of a phaeochromocytoma in early pregnancy can be successfully managed with preoperative alpha and beta sympathetic blockade and a balanced anaesthetic technique using magnesium as the man intraoperative hypotensive agent.