Exaggerated cardiovascular response to anaesthesia — a case for investigation

✍ Scribed by Jones; Redfern; Shaw; Baylis

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 669 KB
• Volume: 54
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-2409
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2044.1999.00998.x

✦ Synopsis

We present a case of a 40‐year‐old woman who developed major cardiovascular complications during anaesthesia for an elective clipping of a cerebral arteriovenous malformation. Postoperative investigation confirmed the diagnosis of an adrenal phaeochromocytoma. In retrospect, it became apparent that she had experienced a series of potentially life‐threatening events over a 20‐year period all of which are known complications of phaeochromocytoma. This case highlights the importance of investigating young patients who have unexpected and unexplained cardiovascular events during anaesthesia and surgery.