Assessment of serum catecholamine concentrations in patients with pheochromocytoma undergoing videolaparoscopic adrenalectomy.

INTRODUCTION We analyzed the changes in serum catecholamine concentrations, i.e. adrenaline and noradrenaline, in response to surgical stress in patients with pheochromocytoma who undergone videolaparoscopic adrenalectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between January 1998 and March 2002, 11 patients underwent 12 videolaparoscopic adrenalectomies. In one case, the adrenalectomy was bilateral. Serum catecholamines were measured at 6 surgical times: T0: control before induction; T1: following the induction, laryngoscopy and intubation sequence; T2: after installing the pneumoperitoneum; T3: during manipulation-exeresis of the pheochromocytoma; T4: following ablation of the pheochromocytoma; T5: in the recovery room following intervention when the patient was extubated and was hemodynamically stable. RESULTS Mean concentrations of serum noradrenaline were significantly different when the T0 and T2 surgical times were compared (T0: 3161 pg/mL; T2: 40440 pg/mL; p < 0.01), T0 and T3 (T0: 3161 pg/mL; T3: 46021 pg/mL; p < 0.001), T1 and T3 (T1: 5531 pg/mL; T3: 46021 pg/mL; p < 0.01), T2 and T4 (T2: 40440 pg/mL; T4: 10773 pg/mL; p < 0.01) and T3 and T5 (T3: 46021 pg/mL; T5: 2549 pg/mL; p < 0.001). Mean concentrations of serum adrenaline were significantly different when the T0 and T3 surgical times were compared (T0: 738 pg/mL; T3: 27561 pg/mL; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION The pneumoperitoneum significantly increases serum noradrenaline concentrations, manipulation of the adrenal gland significantly increases the serum concentrations of noradrenaline and adrenaline, and the pheochromocytoma ablation significantly decreases serum noradrenaline concentrations.