Perioperative Hypertensive Urgency After Methylene Blue in a Patient With Undiagnosed Pheochromocytoma: A Case Report

A A Pract. 2019 May 1;12(9):321-324. doi: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000000924.

Abstract

We report the perioperative course of a 75-year-old woman undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy and tumor debulking. The patient developed severe, persistent hypertension after intraoperative methylene blue administration requiring a Surgical Intensive Care Unit admission with further investigative evaluation revealing a previously undiagnosed pheochromocytoma. Our discussion focuses on the differential diagnoses for her perioperative hypertension. We evaluate whether methylene blue triggered a pheochromocytoma crisis in our patient and emphasize the caution and critical thinking we all should demonstrate while providing anesthetic care.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / surgery
  • Aged
  • Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / etiology*
  • Hysterectomy / adverse effects
  • Incidental Findings
  • Laparoscopy / adverse effects
  • Methylene Blue / adverse effects*
  • Pheochromocytoma / diagnosis*
  • Pheochromocytoma / surgery
  • Robotic Surgical Procedures / adverse effects

Substances

  • Methylene Blue