Adrenaline bolus rescue for refractory carcinoid crises during surgical manipulation of metastatic neuroendocrine tumor of pancreas: A case report

Abstract

Carcinoid crisis is a potentially fatal condition with severe hemodynamic instability. A 25-year-old female with metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor with recurrent carcinoid crises was posted for surgical debulking. Intraoperatively, the patient was on crisis during manipulation of the lesion by the surgeon, which was unresponsive to octreotide, infusions of phenylephrine, and norepinephrine agents. The patient was then effectively managed with adrenaline blouses at 10 µg along with infusion of adrenaline. Use of inotropes and vasopressors is not encouraged in carcinoid due to release of inflammatory mediators which can precipitate the hemodynamic instability. Here, we managed her with adrenaline boluses and infusion.

Keywords

• adrenaline
• carcinoid crises
• neuroendocrine tumors
• pink urine syndrome