# Anesthetic Considerations for the Transsphenoidal Resection of a Pituitary Tumor in an Acromegalic Patient: A Case Report

## TL;DR

This case report discusses the anesthetic challenges and approach for a patient with acromegaly undergoing pituitary tumor surgery.

## Contribution

The paper presents a practical anesthetic strategy for managing acromegalic patients during transsphenoidal surgery.

## Key findings

- Acromegaly causes significant physiological challenges for anesthetic management.
- General anesthesia was successfully used for transsphenoidal resection in this patient.
- Special considerations were needed for airway, cardiovascular, and glycemic management.

## Abstract

Acromegaly can result in many physiological changes that create multiple challenges for the anesthesiologist. Excess growth hormone secretion can result in altered facies, airway obstruction, ventilation challenges, and intubation difficulties. Moreover, hormonal changes can cause electrolyte imbalances, poor glycemic regulation, and hypertension. In addition, radial arterial invasive blood pressure monitoring can be relatively contraindicated given poor ulnar collateral circulation. In this case report, we discuss an acromegalic patient with severe facial, cardiovascular, and respiratory changes who successfully underwent transsphenoidal pituitary gland resection under general anesthesia. We describe our anesthetic approach toward caring for a patient with acromegaly.