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Baroreflex Failure: A Rare Complication of Carotid Paraganglioma Surgery
Author(s) -
Maturo Stephen,
Brennan Joseph
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/01.mlg.0000205130.92277.02
Subject(s) - medicine , baroreflex , paraganglioma , complication , presentation (obstetrics) , surgery , stroke (engine) , blood pressure , anesthesia , radiology , heart rate , mechanical engineering , engineering
Multiple head and neck paragangliomas are a rare occurrence. We report a patient with removal of bilateral carotid paragangliomas who subsequently developed baroreflex failure 1 month after surgery. The pathology and physiology of this presentation is extremely interesting because it exhibits the complex homeostatic mechanisms involved in the maintenance of steady‐state blood pressure. Although rare, it is important to be aware of baroreflex failure and its variable course. Most postsurgical cases occur within days of surgery but, as this report demonstrates, hypertensive urgency can occur weeks to months after surgery; and if not recognized early, it can lead to disastrous postoperative complications such as stroke and myocardial infarction.