Catecholamine release induces elevation in plasma lactate levels in patients undergoing adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship between preoperative catecholamine levels and intraoperative peak plasma lactate levels in patients who underwent adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

Operating room in one university hospital.

MEASUREMENTS

The records of 27 ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients who underwent adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma were studied. Preoperative catecholamine levels and intraoperative plasma lactate levels were recorded.

MAIN RESULTS

Twenty cases had high lactate levels (>2 mmol/L). Preoperative urine epinephrine levels and urine metanephrine levels showed a moderate correlation with intraoperative peak plasma lactate levels (rs = 0.475 and rs = 0.499, respectively; Spearman's rank correlation test). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for preoperative urine epinephrine levels showed good performance for prediction of high lactate levels [>2 mmol/L, area under the curve (AUC) =0.800], whereas ROC for preoperative urine norepinephrine levels showed no predictive performance for high lactate levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Catecholamine release caused by surgical manipulation may be a possible cause of intraoperative transient lactic acidosis, and it should be considered as a differential diagnosis of intraoperative lactic acidosis. Intraoperative peak plasma lactate level was correlated with preoperative epinephrine-releasing activity.