Intraoperative cardiovascular crisis caused by glucagon

R. T. Schorr and S. N. Rogers

Glucagon use as a muscle relaxant is common in radiologic and endoscopic examinations in which smooth-muscle spasm has interfered. Glucagon also provokes catecholamine release from an unsuspected pheochromocytoma, as occurred in a 60-year-old patient undergoing biliary tract surgery. To prevent hypertensive crisis and ventricular tachyarrhythmia after intraoperative glucagon administration, appropriate pharmacologic catecholamine antagonists must be immediately available.