PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Wilkins, G. E.
AU  - Schmidt, N.
AU  - Doll, W. A.
TI  - Hypoglycemia following excision of pheochromocytoma
DP  - 1977 Feb 19
TA  - Canadian Medical Association Journal
PG  - 367--368
VI  - 116
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/116/4/367.short
4100  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/116/4/367.full
SO  - CMAJ1977 Feb 19; 116
AB  - In two patients hypoglycemia developed in the immediate postoperative period after removal of a pheochromocytoma. In one patient the serum insulin value was elevated when he was hypoglycemic. Preoperative preparation of patients with pheochromocytoma requires use of an alpha-adrenergic blocking agent to decrease blood pressure and allow the plasma volume to expand; in the two patients referred to phenoxybenzamine was given orally. It is difficult to recognize hypoglycemia postoperatively because of the altered consciousness associated with a major operation, analgesics, anesthetic agents and the effects of adrenergic blocking medications; hence the physician must watch closely for this complication.