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Carcinoid crisis is a dangerous condition that can occur during surgery. A crisis is characterized by a sudden drop in blood pressure, which causes shock. This condition may be accompanied by an excessively rapid heartbeat, elevated blood glucose levels, and severe bronchospasm. Carcinoid crisis can be fatal. The best way to prevent a carcinoid attack is surgery using somatostatin before surgery. Wheezing occurs in approximately 10% of patients with carcinoid syndrome.

Wheezing is a consequence of bronchospasm (spasm of the airways), which occurs as a result of the release of hormones by a carcinoid tumor. Abdominal pain is a common symptom in patients with carcinoid syndrome. Pain may occur due to metastases in the liver, due to the tumor affecting neighboring tissues and organs, or due to intestinal obstruction (read about small intestinal carcinoid tumor below).

The diagnosis of carcinoid syndrome is confirmed by an increase in the level of serotonin metabolite - 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid - in daily urine. Treatment of carcinoid syndrome. radical surgical removal of the tumor. For metastases that cannot be removed, therapy is prescribed with octreotide, a long-acting analogue of somatostatin. For frequent attacks, methyldopa preparations are used (dopegit 0.25-0.5 g 3-4 times a day), opium preparations for diarrhea. It is possible to use prednisolone in a dose of up to 20-30 mg per day. Causes of carcinoid syndrome and modern methods of its treatment.