Insulinoma and anaesthetic implications

Anesthetic Management of Emergency Insulinoma Resection: Case Report and Review of Literature

Insulinoma, a neuroendocrine tumor originating from pancreatic islets, presents unique challenges in diagnosis and management. We present a case of a 73-year-old female with recurrent hypoglycemia leading to syncope, who underwent emergency pancreatectomy for a secreting insulinoma with multiple comorbidities. This case report aims to shed light on the complexities of insulinoma management and the importance of tailored perioperative strategies. The patient, presenting with severe hypoglycemia, was admitted for optimization. Preoperative assessment labeled her as ASA IVE and indicated a high risk of perioperative morbidity. General anesthesia, invasive monitoring, and epidural anesthesia were planned. Intraoperative glucose control was crucial, achieved with continuous blood glucose monitoring, octreotide administration, and insulin titration. The patient was extubated post-surgery, and pain was managed with epidural infusion. She was discharged on the 4th postoperative day with follow-up care. Insulinoma diagnosis relies on clinical, biochemical, and imaging tests, with 72-hour fasting as the gold standard. Localizing the tumor within the pancreas is essential for surgical success, often requiring invasive techniques. Surgical resection remains the definitive treatment, while medical management may be necessary in select cases. Anesthetic management should prioritize agents that minimize the cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen. Careful intraoperative glucose control and vigilant postoperative monitoring are essential. This case report highlights the intricate management of insulinoma, emphasizing tailored perioperative strategies that balance glucose regulation, anesthesia techniques, and postoperative care. However, the limited existing literature underscores the need for further research to refine anesthesia protocols, glucose control methods, and postoperative care, ultimately improving outcomes for patients with insulinoma.

Glucose Management during Insulinoma Resection Using Real-Time Subcutaneous Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Insulinoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor that causes hypoglycemia due to unregulated insulin secretion. Blood glucose management during insulinoma resection is therefore challenging. We present a case in which real-time subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring (SCGM) in combination with intermittent blood glucose measurement was used for glycemic control during surgery for insulinoma resection. The SCGM system showed the trends and peak of interstitial glucose in response to glucose loading and the change of interstitial glucose before and after insulinoma resection. These data were helpful for adjusting the glucose infusion; therefore, we think that an SCGM system as a supportive device for glucose monitoring may be useful for glucose management during surgery.

Evolving management of insulinoma: Experience at a tertiary care centre

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

Since our previous study in 2006, several new modalities for localization of cause of endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia such as multiphasic computed tomography (CT), multiphasic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), intraoperative ultrasound, and intra-arterial calcium infusion with arterial stimulation venous sampling (ASVS) have become available. Therefore, to evaluate the relative usefulness of various imaging modalities to guide future management in terms of diagnosis and patient care, we analyzed presentation and management of patients of endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, medical records of patients admitted with endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia were retrieved. Data pertaining to clinical features, diagnosis, imaging, surgery and patient outcome were extracted. The localization of insulinoma by preoperative imaging techniques was compared with the findings at surgery to assess the accuracy of localization.

RESULTS

Fasting hypoglycaemia was present in all, and post-prandial hypoglycaemia (plasma glucose ≤50 mg/dl within four hours of meal) in 25.8 per cent. Mean duration of symptoms before reaching a diagnosis of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia was 3.9 years. Mean duration of provocative fast was 21.8 h (range 6-48 h). Among the currently used imaging modalities, the sensitivity of localizing tumour was 79.3 per cent for multiphasic CT, 85 per cent for multiphasic MRI and 95 per cent for EUS. EUS detected tumour missed by both CT and MRI. All, except one of the operated patients, were cured by surgery.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that patients with insulinoma have a varied presentation. Multiphasic contrast-enhanced MRI/CT scan, EUS and ASVS may be complimentary in pre-operative localization.

[Insulinoma and pregnancy: anesthesia and perioperative management]

Insulinoma is a functional neuroendocrine tumor derived from beta cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, usually solitary, benign, and curable with surgery (enucleation). It rarely occurs during pregnancy and is clinically manifested by hypoglycemia, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. During pregnancy, both conservative therapeutic measures (medication) and surgical treatment are challenging regarding the impossibility of studies on drug teratogenicity as well as the maternal-fetal repercussions during surgery, such as hypoglycemia and changes due to stress.

CASE REPORT

A 33-year primiparous woman, 86kg, 1.62m, BMI 32.7kg.m^-2, at 15 weeks of gestation, physical status ASA III, investigated for a reduced level of consciousness. Laboratory tests showed: hypoglycemia (45mg.dL^-1) associated with hyperinsulinemia (24 nUI.mL^-1), glycosylated hemoglobin (4.1%); other laboratory findings and physical examination were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 1.1cm nodule in the pancreatic tail with suspected insulinoma. Due to the difficult glycemic control with bolus and continuous infusion of glucose, laparotomy was performed for tumor enucleation under total intravenous anesthesia combined with epidural block. Monitoring, central and peripheral venous access, radial artery catheterization, diuresis, and glucosimetry were recorded every 15minutes. Intraoperatively, there was severe hypoglycemia while handling the tumor and shortly before its enucleation, which was controlled through continuous infusion of 10% glucose balanced crystalloid solution (100-230ml.h^-1). The patient's postoperative evolution was uneventful, with resolution of hypoglycemia and total withdrawal of glucose intravenous infusion.