Pheochromocytoma‐related cardiomyopathy during the antepartum period in a preterm pregnant woman

We report a rare case of pheochromocytoma‐related cardiomyopathy during the preterm period. The patient was a 33‐year‐old woman who was referred to our hospital at 34 weeks' gestation. Her pulse was 130 beats/min, blood pressure of 186/90 mmHg and oxygen saturation was 30–40%. Fetal bradycardia prompted an emergency cesarean section and, nine minutes after admission, a boy weighing 2774 g was delivered with Apgar scores of 2 at 1 min and 5 at 5 min. A preoperative echocardiogram showed reduced fractional shortening of 19%. At 8 h after the operation, cardiac arrest developed. An intra‐aortic balloon pump and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support were inserted, and continuous hemodiafiltration was also commenced, after which her cardiac function and respiratory function gradually improved. Urinary catecholamine levels were elevated and abdominal computerized tomography confirmed the presence of a right suprarenal mass. Four months after delivery, she underwent a laparoscopic adrenalectomy and the mass was found to be a pheochromocytoma.