If there is any delay in definitive surgery, the condition may be controlled by oral administration of 10mg phenoxybenzamine four times daily and 40mg propranolol three times daily. The author's own practice is to administer phenoxybenzamine orally for a minimum period of one month prior to surgery. This results in the restoration of the plasma volume to normal and a much smoother intra- and postoperative course. During surgery, sodium nitroprusside has proved to be extremely useful in controlling large swings in blood pressure that may occur even in patients who have been fully ΓÇÿblockedΓÇÖ by a- and b-blockers.
