Anesth Analg 2006;102:642-643
© 2006 International Anesthesia Research Society
doi: 10.1213/01.ane.0000184827.79120.43
GENERAL ARTICLES
Acute Appendicitis in a Patient with Undiagnosed Pheochromocytoma
Nicki S. Tarant, DO,
Rhodel G. Dacanay, MD,
Brian W. Mecklenburg, MD,
Sean D. Birmingham, MD,
Eugenio Lujan, MD, and
Richard Green, MD
Department of Anesthesiology, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California
Address correspondence to Brian W. Mecklenburg, MD, c/o Clinical Investigation Department (KCA), Naval Medical Center San Diego, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, Ste. 5, San Diego, CA 92134-1005. Address e-mail to bwmecklenburg{at}nmcsd.med.navy.mil.
Pheochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine-producing tumor that can cause severe hypertension and other systemic disturbances. A clinical challenge arises when a patient with a previously undiagnosed and untreated pheochromocytoma presents with a surgical emergency. We describe a patient presenting with acute appendicitis in whom surgery was cancelled because of suspected pheochromocytoma. The possibility of mortality associated with surgery in a patient with an undiagnosed pheochromocytoma outweighed the risk of nonoperative management for appendicitis. This case resulted in a nonoperative resolution of appendicitis and an unremarkable recovery once appropriate hypertension treatment was administered.
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A. Dabbous, S. Siddik-Sayyid, and A. Baraka
Catastrophic Hemodynamic Changes in a Patient with Undiagnosed Pheochromocytoma Undergoing Abdominal Hysterectomy
Anesth. Analg.,
January 1, 2007;
104(1):
223 - 224.
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