Preoperative Management of Catecholamine-Producing Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas—Results From a DELPHI Process

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • on behalf of the “Section for Adrenal, Steroids and Hypertension” of the German Society of Endocrinology (DGE) and the “Surgical Working Group for Endocrinology” (CAEK) of the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV) - (Author)
  • Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
  • University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden
  • Technical University of Munich
  • University of Duisburg-Essen
  • University Hospital Tübingen
  • Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
  • Berlin Institute of Health at Charité
  • Schön Klinik Hamburg Eilbek
  • University of Marburg
  • Leipzig University
  • Kroiss Endokrinologie und Diabetologie Practice

Abstract

Context: European and German consensus guidelines advocate preoperative therapy with α-adrenoreceptor antagonists in symptomatic patients with catecholamine-producing pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) to avoid hypertensive crisis during adrenalectomy. This practice has been questioned recently. Objective: This work aimed to assess current preoperative management of PPGLs across disciplines. Methods: The study was conducted from November 2023 to February 2024 using the Delphi technique. Two consecutive surveys were conceived by a steering group and 46 experts were consulted using REDCap web application (response: 74%). Results: There was general agreement about diagnostic tools and indication for adrenalectomy. In contrast, 20% of the panelists routinely administered α-adrenoreceptor antagonists to all patients, 50% only in case of symptoms, and about one-third of experts abandoned preoperative α-adrenoreceptor blockade. The prevention of anticipated intraoperative hypertensive crisis and cardiovascular complications (75%) as well as medicolegal considerations (25%) were the main motivations. Despite availability of short-acting α-adrenoreceptor antagonists, most experts (63%) continued to use phenoxybenzamine. Half of the experts preferred pretreatment in an outpatient setting, 13% routinely treated in the hospital, and 37% combined outpatient and inpatient treatment. Intraoperatively, urapidil and nitroprusside natrium were mainly used for blood pressure control. Postoperatively, around 60% of the experts routinely admitted patients to an intensive care or intermediate care unit. Conclusion: Current guideline recommendations for preoperative treatment with α-adrenoreceptor antagonists in patients with PPGLs are generally adopted by treating teams but current practice is very heterogeneous even among expert centers. With the improvement of surgical techniques and intraoperative management, a more individualized approach may be considered.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numberbvaf024
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of the Endocrine Society
Volume9
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-6932-333X/work/203072170

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • adrenal, catecholamines, hemodynamic instability, hypertensive crisis, phenoxybenzamine, pheochromocytoma