Intraoperative cardiovascular crisis caused by glucagon.
Glucagon use as a muscle relaxant is common in radiologic and endoscopic examinations in which smooth-muscle spasm has interfered. Glucagon also provokes catecholamine release from an unsuspected pheochromocytoma, as occurred in a 60-year-old patient undergoing biliary tract surgery. To prevent hypertensive crisis and ventricular tachyarrhythmia after intraoperative glucagon administration, appropriate pharmacologic catecholamine antagonists must be immediately available.
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002758:Cholangiography; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D005934:Glucagon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000150:complications
D002395:Catecholamines; D005934:Glucagon