RESUMO
Two patients underwent anesthesia for pheochromocytoma involving adrenal gland and extra- adrenal space. Patient 1 was not diagnosed as pheochromocytoma before surgery and thus proper preoperative evaluation and care was not possible. During surgery and anesthesia, the patient showed a marked blood pressure variation, arrythmia and tachycardia. Pulmonary edema occurred intraoperatively, but subsided with positive end expiratory pressure and the use of diuretics and morphine. Patient 2 was preoperatively diagnosed as pheochromocytoma and was thus given prazosin and nifedipine (for 11 days) preoperatively. Blood pressure and pulse rate throughout the surgery and anesthesia were stable and no intra- and postoperative complication occured. We believe that careful preoperative preparation is essential to minimize intraoperative hemo- dynamic disturbance and their sequelae.