BACKGROUND: Sudden massive release of serotonin, histamine, kallikrein, and bradykinin is postulated to cause an intraoperative carcinoid crisis. The exact roles of each of these possible agents, however, remain unknown. Optimal treatment will require an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of the carcinoid crisis. METHODS: Carcinoid patients with liver metastases undergoing elective abdominal operations were studied prospectively, using intraoperative, transesophageal echocardiography, pulmonary artery catheterization, and intraoperative blood collection. Serotonin, histamine, kallikrein, and bradykinin levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Of 46 patients studied, 16 had intraoperative hypotensive crises. Preincision serotonin levels were greater in patients who had crises (1,064 vs 453 ng/mL, P = .0064). Preincision hormone profiles were otherwise diverse. Cardiac function on transesophageal echocardiography during the crisis was normal, but intracardiac hypovolemia was observed consistently. Pulmonary artery pressure decreased during crises (P = .025). Linear regression of preincision serotonin levels showed a positive relationship with mid-crisis cardiac index (r = 0.73, P = .017) and a negative relationship with systemic vascular resistance (r=-0.61, P = .015). There were no statistically significant increases of serotonin, histamine, kallikrein, or bradykinin levels during the crises. CONCLUSION: The pathophysiology of carcinoid crisis appears consistent with distributive shock. Hormonal secretion from carcinoid tumors varies widely, but increased preincision serotonin levels correlate with crises and with hemodynamic parameters during the crises. Statistically significant increases of serotonin, histamine, kallikrein, or bradykinin during the crises were not observed.
BACKGROUND: Sudden massive release of serotonin, histamine, kallikrein, and bradykinin is postulated to cause an intraoperative carcinoid crisis. The exact roles of each of these possible agents, however, remain unknown. Optimal treatment will require an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of the carcinoid crisis. METHODS:Carcinoidpatients with liver metastases undergoing elective abdominal operations were studied prospectively, using intraoperative, transesophageal echocardiography, pulmonary artery catheterization, and intraoperative blood collection. Serotonin, histamine, kallikrein, and bradykinin levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Of 46 patients studied, 16 had intraoperative hypotensive crises. Preincision serotonin levels were greater in patients who had crises (1,064 vs 453 ng/mL, P = .0064). Preincision hormone profiles were otherwise diverse. Cardiac function on transesophageal echocardiography during the crisis was normal, but intracardiac hypovolemia was observed consistently. Pulmonary artery pressure decreased during crises (P = .025). Linear regression of preincision serotonin levels showed a positive relationship with mid-crisis cardiac index (r = 0.73, P = .017) and a negative relationship with systemic vascular resistance (r=-0.61, P = .015). There were no statistically significant increases of serotonin, histamine, kallikrein, or bradykinin levels during the crises. CONCLUSION: The pathophysiology of carcinoid crisis appears consistent with distributive shock. Hormonal secretion from carcinoid tumors varies widely, but increased preincision serotonin levels correlate with crises and with hemodynamic parameters during the crises. Statistically significant increases of serotonin, histamine, kallikrein, or bradykinin during the crises were not observed.
Authors: James R Howe; Nipun B Merchant; Claudius Conrad; Xavier M Keutgen; Julie Hallet; Jeffrey A Drebin; Rebecca M Minter; Terry C Lairmore; Jennifer F Tseng; Herbert J Zeh; Steven K Libutti; Gagandeep Singh; Jeffrey E Lee; Thomas A Hope; Michelle K Kim; Yusuf Menda; Thorvardur R Halfdanarson; Jennifer A Chan; Rodney F Pommier Journal: Pancreas Date: 2020-01 Impact factor: 3.327
Authors: Jessica E Maxwell; Boris Naraev; Daniel M Halperin; Michael A Choti; Thorvardur R Halfdanarson Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2022-02-14 Impact factor: 5.344
Authors: Rongzhi Wang; Rui Zheng-Pywell; H Alexander Chen; James A Bibb; Herbert Chen; J Bart Rose Journal: Clin Med Insights Endocrinol Diabetes Date: 2019-10-24
Authors: Catherine G Tran; Scott K Sherman; Chandrikha Chandrasekharan; James R Howe Journal: Surg Oncol Clin N Am Date: 2020-10-20 Impact factor: 3.495
Authors: Islam Mohammad Shehata; Amir Elhassan; David Alejandro Munoz; Bryan Okereke; Elyse M Cornett; Giustino Varrassi; Farnad Imani; Alan David Kaye; Saloome Sehat-Kashani; Ivan Urits; Omar Viswanath Journal: Anesth Pain Med Date: 2021-02-24