Abstract
Background: Hemodynamic instability is common during adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL). Most analyses focus on the risk factors for intraoperative hypertension, but hypotension is a frequent and undesirable phenomenon during PPGL surgery. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors for hypotensive episodes during the removal of PPGL, and whether these episodes are always associated with concomitant intraoperative hypertensive events. Methods: A consecutive series of 121 patients (91.7% receiving preoperative alpha-blockade) treated with transperitoneal endoscopic adrenalectomy at a university hospital were analyzed, and pre- and intraoperative risk factors for intraoperative hypotension with or without intraoperative hypertension were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: In total, 58 (56.2%) patients presented with intraoperative hypotension. Of these, 25 (20.7%) patients showed only hypotensive episodes but no hypertensive episodes (group 1), and 43 (35.5%) patients had both intraoperative hypotension and hypertension (group 2). The remaining 53 patients did not present with hypotension at all (group 3). When comparing group 1 (hypotension only) to all other patients with incidental diagnosis, higher age and lower preoperative diastolic arterial blood pressure (ABP) were significant risk factors for intraoperative hypotension; only the latter two were still significant in multivariate analysis. The significant risk factors for hypotension independent of hypertension (group 1 + 2 vs. group 3) were age and incidental diagnosis, pre-existing diabetes mellitus, and intraoperative use of remifentanil. Incidental diagnosis and use of remifentanil reached the level of significance in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Since older age, incidental diagnosis of PPGL, lower preoperative ABP, and diabetes mellitus are risk factors for intraoperative hypotension, preoperative alpha-blocker treatment should be individualized for those at risk for hypotension. In addition, remifentanil should be used cautiously in the risk group.