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Enright et al: Short‐ and long‐term survival after adrenalectomy in 53 dogs with pheochromocytomas with or without alpha‐blocker therapy
Veterinary Surgery 3, 2022

🔍 Key Findings

  • 83% of dogs survived to discharge after adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma.
  • Median survival time post-discharge was 1169 days (3.2 years).
  • Preoperative alpha-blocker therapy (e.g., phenoxybenzamine) was not associated with improved survival.
  • Dogs receiving alpha-blockers had higher intraoperative systolic BP, with median values 170 mmHg vs. 142 mmHg in non-treated dogs (P = .01).
  • Intraoperative arrhythmias occurred in 30% of cases, with no difference between dogs receiving alpha-blockers and those not.
  • Histologic vascular invasion occurred in ~70% of tumors.
  • Tumor recurrence was suspected in 3 dogs, and metastasis in 8 dogs, though not histologically confirmed in most cases.
  • Postoperative complications included refractory hypotension, acute kidney injury, and hypertension persisting >48 hours in 10 dogs.

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← Articles

Enright et al: Short‐ and long‐term survival after adrenalectomy in 53 dogs with pheochromocytomas with or without alpha‐blocker therapy
Veterinary Surgery 3, 2022

🔍 Key Findings

  • 83% of dogs survived to discharge after adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma.
  • Median survival time post-discharge was 1169 days (3.2 years).
  • Preoperative alpha-blocker therapy (e.g., phenoxybenzamine) was not associated with improved survival.
  • Dogs receiving alpha-blockers had higher intraoperative systolic BP, with median values 170 mmHg vs. 142 mmHg in non-treated dogs (P = .01).
  • Intraoperative arrhythmias occurred in 30% of cases, with no difference between dogs receiving alpha-blockers and those not.
  • Histologic vascular invasion occurred in ~70% of tumors.
  • Tumor recurrence was suspected in 3 dogs, and metastasis in 8 dogs, though not histologically confirmed in most cases.
  • Postoperative complications included refractory hypotension, acute kidney injury, and hypertension persisting >48 hours in 10 dogs.

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Multiple Choice Questions on this study

In Enright 2022 et al., on adrenalectomy outcomes, which of the following best describes the association between alpha-blocker use and intraoperative hypertension?

A. Alpha-blocker therapy significantly reduced systolic BP
B. Alpha-blocker therapy was associated with higher intraoperative systolic BP
C. Alpha-blocker therapy eliminated hypertensive episodes
D. No dogs receiving alpha-blockers experienced hypertension
E. Alpha-blocker use increased arrhythmia rate

Answer: Alpha-blocker therapy was associated with higher intraoperative systolic BP

Explanation: Dogs receiving alpha-blockers had significantly higher systolic BP intraoperatively (median 170 mmHg vs. 142 mmHg; P = .01).
In Enright 2022 et al., on adrenalectomy outcomes, what was the median survival time of dogs that survived to discharge?

A. 525 days
B. 769 days
C. 950 days
D. 1169 days
E. 1440 days

Answer: 1169 days

Explanation: Dogs surviving to discharge had a median survival time of 1169 days (3.2 years).
In Enright 2022 et al., on adrenalectomy outcomes, what percentage of dogs survived to hospital discharge?

A. 70%
B. 78%
C. 83%
D. 89%
E. 94%

Answer: 83%

Explanation: 83% of dogs (44/53) survived to hospital discharge following adrenalectomy.
In Enright 2022 et al., on adrenalectomy outcomes, which postoperative complication occurred in dogs and may support use of anticoagulants in hypertensive cases?

A. Hemorrhage
B. Arrhythmia
C. Thromboembolic events
D. Seizures
E. Sepsis

Answer: Thromboembolic events

Explanation: Thromboembolic events were suspected in 3 of the 9 dogs that died postoperatively, particularly in those with difficult-to-control hypertension.
In Enright 2022 et al., on adrenalectomy outcomes, what was the observed effect of preoperative alpha-blocker therapy on long-term survival?

A. Improved survival
B. Reduced survival
C. No significant effect
D. Improved short-term but not long-term survival
E. Worsened short-term survival

Answer: No significant effect

Explanation: Preoperative alpha-blocker therapy was not associated with increased survival (P > .05).

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