ObjectiveTo Summarize and analyze the pheochromocytoma complications of surgery patients and its influential factors, in order to provide a basis for preoperative assessment and postoperative support treatment for the patients. MethodsWe reviewed the clinical data of 88 patients with pheochromocytoma from West China Hospital between January 2010 and December 2012. Among them, 35 had complications (complication group), and the other 53 had no complications (non-complication group). We analyzed preoperative blood catecholamine levels, preoperative preparation, tumor size, tumor location and surgical approach in all these patients. ResultsThere were 16 patients (45.7%) with bilateral adrenal tumors (χ2=19.976, P<0.001), and 9 patients (25.7%) with extra-adrenal tumors (χ2=7.380, P=0.007) in the complication group, significantly higher than 3 (5.7%) and 2 (3.8%) patients respectively in the non-complication group. The diameter of tumor in the complication group was (8.33±3.69) cm, which was significantly higher than that in the non-complication group[(4.32±3.12) cm] (t=5.484, P<0.001). The risk factors for complications in patients undergoing pheochromocytoma surgery included bilateral adrenal tumors (OR=10.316, P<0.001), extraadrenal tumors (OR=8.827, P=0.008), diameter of the tumor longer than 6 cm (OR=94.937, P<0.001), laparotomy (OR=40.727, P<0.001) and long time surgery for more than three hours (OR=312.000, P<0.001). ConclusionPatients who develop complications after pheochromocytoma surgery usually have bigger, and bilateral adrenal or extraadrenal tumors. Patients whose surgery is laparotomy or longer than three hours may also have more complications.These influential factors should be considered in future comprehensive treatment in order to achieve a good prognosis.