Heart failure induced by pheochromocytoma: Laparoscopic treatment and intraoperative changes of several new cardiovascular hormones

Since 1992, adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma has been recognized as a saf e and efficient technique when performed by a laparoscopic approach. Most o f the cases of pheochromocytomas treated as such and published in the liter ature were not associated with malignant hypertension and acute heart failu re. We report the case of a 23-year-old woman who presented with this clini cal picture and show that laparoscopic adrenalectomy may be as safe and eff icient as conventional adrenalectomy when performed in this situation, The intraoperative changes in the secretion of catecholamines, endothelin-l, an giotensin II, N- and C-terminus of atrial natriuretic factor prohormone wer e also analyzed, Noradrenaline release during tumor dissection was associat ed with a stimulation of atrial natriuretic factor.