Anesthetic management in a patient with pancreatic insulinoma

Authors

Keywords:

insulinoma, general anesthesia, glycemic index

Abstract

Introduction: Insulinoma is a rare tumor, originating in the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans. It is characterized by uncontrolled and excessive secretion of insulin that results in hypoglycemia after prolonged fasting or exercise. The treatment of choice is surgical and anesthetic management is a challenge for anesthesiologists due to the difficulty in maintaining adequate blood glucose levels.

Objective: To describe the anesthetic behavior in a patient with pancreatic insulinoma.

Clinical case:  We present a 41-year-old white female patient with a health history, who has had weakness, sweating and occasional headache with loss of consciousness at any time of the day for two and a half years. Through imaging and histological studies, she was diagnosed with pancreatic insulinoma and surgical treatment was decided. Anesthetic management was based on several pillars: administration of steroids prior to anesthesia and surgery, replacement with dextrose solutions, anesthetic maintenance by manual controlled total intravenous anesthesia, serial determination of glycemic levels during the perioperative period, and postoperative analgesia.

Conclusions:  The application of these abutments contributed to the absence of surgical and anesthetic complications.

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Published

2023-07-10

How to Cite

1.
Vega Mateo Y, Mesa González M, López González K, Herrera Vallejera D, Gutiérrez Pérez M. Anesthetic management in a patient with pancreatic insulinoma. Invest Medicoquir [Internet]. 2023 Jul. 10 [cited 2026 Feb. 11];15(2). Available from: https://revcimeq.sld.cu/index.php/imq/article/view/825

Issue

Section

Case presentation