For a patient with recurrent headaches due to a right adrenal mass, which medication would be relevant preoperatively?

In the context of preparing a patient with a right adrenal mass, particularly one that may be secreting catecholamines (as could occur in pheochromocytoma), the use of phenoxybenzamine is crucial. This medication is a non-selective irreversible alpha-adrenergic antagonist that will help manage hypertension and prevent catecholamine-induced complications during surgery.

Patients with adrenal tumors that release catecholamines can experience episodes of severe hypertension, headaches, and other symptoms related to catecholamine excess. By administering phenoxybenzamine preoperatively, the goal is to effectively control these symptoms and minimize the risk of intraoperative hypertension. This approach is particularly important if the mass is suspected to be a pheochromocytoma – the most common type of tumor associated with such a presentation.

The other medications listed, while they serve various roles in managing hypertension or other conditions, do not provide the same level of preoperative preparation for a patient with a catecholamine-secreting adrenal tumor. Propranolol, for instance, can help manage some symptoms of anxiety or tremor and can lower heart rate but does not specifically address the underlying issues of catecholamine excess in the same way. Spironolactone is an aldosterone