Alpha blockade not to be underdone.

We read with interest the article on whether patients with hormonally functioning phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas receive proper adrenoreceptor blockade (1). Since the removal of intravenous phenoxybenzamine (Goldshield) from the UK formulae due to worldwide lack of availability, providing patients with adequate alpha adrenoreceptor blockade has become more challenging. We conducted a small retrospective audit in our department to investigate the efficacy of oral Phenoxybenzamine compared to intravenous Phenoxybenzamine as we had formed the clinical impression that that pre-operative preparation is currently less safe than it used to be. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.