Central extracorporeal life support in pheochromocytoma crisis.

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting tumor associated with clinical presentations ranging from paroxysmal hypertension to intractable cardiogenic shock. We report the use of central extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in a young woman admitted to the intensive care unit with cardiogenic shock. Her medical history included neurofibromatosis type I and pheochromocytoma. ECLS was needed because of severe left ventricular failure and inotropic therapy unresponsiveness. ECLS permitted full recovery of left ventricular function. Right adrenelectomy was performed 4 months later. In this case, central ECLS was used to treat pheochromocytoma-induced cardiogenic shock complicated by pulmonary edema.