Intraoperative anesthetic management of patients undergoing glomus tumor resection using a low-dose isoflurane-fentanyl technique.

Glomus jugulare and vagale tumors present unique problems to both anesthesiologists and surgeons. The anesthetic plant must be tailored to each patient and provide hemodynamic stability, a consistent intraoperative environment, and rapid awakening after prolonged administration. In this report, we describe our anesthetic method used for paraganglioma resection, which utilizes a combination technique of low-dose isoflurane with a narcotic infusion initiated after bolus administration. Results from the last three patients anesthetized by this "balanced" technique were compared to a similar patient who received isoflurane anesthesia exclusively for a major portion of the surgical procedure. The patients receiving the balanced anesthesia required no hemodynamic support during the procedure and were awakened within 15 to 25 minutes of surgical completion. The patient receiving high-dose isoflurane, however, had a prolonged anesthetic wake-up time and did not follow verbal commands for approximately 12 hours after surgical completion. This patient also required hemodynamic support with a phenylephrine infusion during tumor resection. The balanced technique seems to be superior to a straight inhalational technique. Neurological assessment and intubation times after prolonged surgery were reduced with superb hemodynamic stability throughout. This anesthetic method produces a stable intraoperative environment and provides deep surgical anesthesia during periods when muscle relaxants cannot be utilized.