INTRODUCTION
Pheochromocytoma, arising from the chromaffin cells of the adrenal
medulla, can cause excessive catecholamines secretion and trigger
pheochromocytoma crisis, characterized by high mortality rate up to
13%1. Pheochromocytoma crisis induced
catecholaminergic cardiomyopathy may lead to multiple organ system
damage or dysfunction, myocardial infarction, acute left ventricular
failure, cardiogenic shock, and other fatal outcomes, commonly in
undiagnosed or well-controlled pheochromocytoma2.
Surgical resection is the primary treatment; however, the instability of
perioperative hemodynamics poses a high risk of anesthesia and poses
great challenges in treatment3. Currently, research on
the diagnosis, treatment, and nursing care of such patients is mainly
based on case reports. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
(VA -ECMO) has been reported to stabilize circulation and extend the
surgical window for patients with severe myocardial injury or
circulatory failure4. In June 2021, we successfully
treated a patient with pheochromocytoma presenting with cardiogenic
shock as the first manifestation of multiple organ failure. This case
report presents our experience in diagnosis, treatment, and nursing care
of pheochromocytoma with various severe complications.