ABSTRACT
Eighteen patients with metastatic carcinoid were treated by hepatic artery embolization with Gelfoam or polyvinyl alcohol foam for control of the carcinoid syndrome. Seventeen showed subjective or objective clinical improvement, including less skin flushing, diarrhea, and bronchospasm. Fourteen showed improvement in biochemical indices, including decreased urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels. The mean life span of the treated patients from the first episode of flushing to the time of this report was 5.4 years, and half of the patients are still alive. This survival time compares favorably with previous reports of survival of 3.2 years from the onset of flushing.
Subject(s)
Embolization, Therapeutic , Hepatic Artery , Malignant Carcinoid Syndrome/therapy , Adult , Aged , Female , Hepatic Artery/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Male , Malignant Carcinoid Syndrome/diagnostic imaging , Malignant Carcinoid Syndrome/mortality , Middle Aged , RadiographyABSTRACT
Anaesthesia for nine patients with the carcinoid syndrome is described. With the exception of one case in which severe bronchospasm and hypertension occurred, complications were minor. Steroids, aprotonin and methotrimeprazine appear to be useful agents in the management of such patients. An anaesthetic technique employing thiopentone, pancuronium and nitrous oxide proved satisfactory.
