Β-Adrenergic agonist administration is not associated with secondary carcinoid crisis in patients with carcinoid tumor

Kristen E. Limbach, Mary E. Condron, Ann E. Bingham, Su Ellen J. Pommier, Rodney F. Pommier

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Patients with carcinoid tumors are at risk for profound intraoperative hypotension known as carcinoid crisis, which catecholamines are traditionally believed to trigger. However, data supporting this are lacking. Methods: Anesthesia records were retrospectively reviewed for carcinoid patients treated with vasopressors. Hemodynamics for those with crisis were compared between those who received β-adrenergic agonists (B-AA) versus those who did not. Results: Among 293 consecutive operations, 58 were marked by 161 crises. There was no significant difference in the incidence of paradoxical hypotension with B-AA compared to non-B-AA (p = 0.242). The maximum percent decrease in mean arterial pressure following drug administration was significantly greater in those patients treated with non-B-AA than with B-AA (31.6% vs. 12.5%, p < 0.0001). There were no differences in crisis duration (p = 0.257) or postoperative complication rate (p = 0.896). Conclusions: β-Adrenergic agonist use was not associated with paradoxical hypotension, prolonged carcinoid crisis, or postoperative complications in patients with intraoperative carcinoid crisis. B-adrenergic agonists such as epinephrine have been traditionally believed to trigger intraoperative carcinoid crisis, but few data support this. Anesthesia and medical records were retrospectively reviewed for carcinoid patients undergoing abdominal operation in which they were treated with vasopressors and had at least one carcinoid crisis. During the 58 operations identified that met these criteria, β-adrenergic agonist use was not associated with paradoxical hypotension, prolonged carcinoid crisis, or an increased rate of postoperative complications. Therefore, it is concluded that β-adrenergic agonists may be considered for treatment of refractory intraoperative hypotension in carcinoid patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)932-936
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican journal of surgery
Volume217
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2019

Keywords

  • Carcinoid
  • Carcinoid crisis
  • Epinephrine
  • Vasopressor
  • β-Adrenergic agonist

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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