Adenosine: A new antihypertensive agent during pheochromocytoma removal

Severe hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias are well known problems during surgical removal of pheochromocytoma. This is due to extremely high circulating catecholamines during tumor manipulation. In this study, peroperative blood pressure control was obtained by the infusion of adenosine, which antagonized cardiovascular effects of catecholamines. During operation of 10 patients, none had systolic blood pressure exceeding 200 mm Hg or any cardiac arrhythmias despite extremely high plasma catecholamine levels. A mean blood pressure of 120–150 mm Hg was maintained in all patients. Peroperative use of adenosine seems to be a most effective compound for hemodynamic control during pheochromocytoma surgery.