title: Anaesthesia for phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 31-yr-old woman underwent resection of a phaeochromocytoma at seven weeks gestation. Preoperative preparation included 2 mg prazosin p.o. bid and 40 mg propranolol p.o. bid. A balanced anaesthetic technique including 5 mg midazolam, 1500 micrograms alfentanil, 35 micrograms sufentanil, nitrous oxide and isoflurane was used. Blood pressure was controlled with 3.4 g magnesium and 2437 micrograms 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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 main intraoperative hypotensive agent.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia Department of Anaesthesia, St Pauls' Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sirrs
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Onrot
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000601:surgery*