[The use of magnesium sulfate during surgery of pheochromocytoma: apropos of 2 cases].

Maintenance of haemodynamic stability during anaesthesia for phaeochromocytoma resection is still a challenge. If magnesium sulfate is widely used for the control of arterial pressure during preeclampsia, its use during phaeochromocytoma resection has only been published by one author. We describe two cases where magnesium sulfate is the main agent used to control arterial pressure during resection of a phaeochromocytoma. Magnesium sulfate's hypotensive, antiarrhythmic and antiadrenergic properties are reviewed. The total doses administered were 11 g and 12 g, given as an infusion and boluses. Magnesium sulfate could be part of the anaesthetist's pharmacopoeia during phaeochromocytoma resection.