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Abstract Phaeochromocytoma remams one of the great challenges to anaesthetists in both the operating theatre and intensive therapy unit. It is a catecholamine secreting tumour present usually intraadrenally. Hypertension as well as symptoms related to sympathetic overactivity are classical clinical presentations of phaeochromocytoma ( AI-Nuaim and EI-Desouki 1989). Although these tumours are uncommon but is important to be diagnosed because undiagnosis may be fatal in pregnant women during delivery or in patients undergoing surgery for other disorders, however with early diagnosis and proper management almost all patients with benign tumours recovers completely (Goldfien 1991). Fewer than 0.1 % of all cases of hypertension are caused by phaeochromocytomas, nevertheless, these tumours are clearly important to the anaesthetist, since 25 - 500/0 of hospital deaths in patients with phaeochromocytomas may occur during induction of anaesthesia or during operative procedures for other causes (Roizen 1994) . Misdiagnosed or improperly treated phaeochromocytoma is fatal because of their capacity to store and release catecholamines in large amounts (Landsberg and Young 1992). |