Side-specific Factors for Intraoperative Hemodynamic Instability in Adrenalectomy for Pheochromocytoma. A Comparative Analysis

Pheochromocytoma (PHEO) is a malignancy characterized by the production of catecholamines from chromaffin cells located in the adrenomedullary system. The prevalence of PHEO in the general population ranges from 0.05% to 0.1%, however it is more prevalent among those with hypertension. The clinical presentation exhibits a spectrum that spans from asymptomatic to abrupt mortality. Minimally invasive laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) has emerged as a prominent technique in adrenal illness surgery due to its reduced surgical morbidity and death rates, making it the favored method in this field. The initial exploration of transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (TLA) was conducted by Gagner et al. The LA procedure encompasses many transabdominal and retroperitoneal techniques, whereas TLA is favored by surgeons due to its well-known anatomy and expansive working area. Nevertheless, PHEO surgery remains a formidable task for surgeons and anesthesiologists due to its established correlation with hemodynamic instability (HI), resulting in symptoms such as abrupt hypertension or tachycardia, as well as severe and protracted hypotension following tumor excision. Skilled surgeons and anesthesiologists enhance the outcomes and reduce the occurrence of hypotension. The research has documented a multitude of additional risk factors associated with HI. The observed variability could perhaps be attributed to the lack of consistent anesthesiological and surgical protocols, as well as variations in the definitions of HI. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy does not have any absolute contraindications. However, it is worth noting that up to 20% of patients may need to undergo conversion to an open procedure. There has been no specific evaluation of the incidence and risk factors of perioperative hypotension (both intraoperative and postoperative) and conversion rate in a large group of patients undergoing laparoscopic right adrenalectomy (LRA) or laparoscopic left adrenalectomy (LLA) for managing pheochromocytoma resection.