[Video laparoscopic adrenalectomy].

BACKGROUND

The authors describe the surgical technique for right and left adrenalectomy and the per- and postoperative course of the patients.

METHODS

Twenty-seven laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed between November 1992 and February 1996: there were 18 women and 9 men ranging in age from 31 to 70 years (mean 50.8 years); the surgical procedure was a lateral decubitus transperitoneal flank approach in 26 patients, and a retroperitoneal approach in one.

RESULTS

Twelve right and 15 left glands were removed. Adrenal diseases were primary aldosteronism in 20 patients, non-functional adenoma in 3 patients, 2 Cushing's syndrome, adrenal cyst in one and incidentaloma in one. Mean adrenal gland size was 2.6 cm (range 0.5 to 8 cm). Five patients (18.5%), were converted to laparotomy, for dissection problems in 4 and failure to locate the left adrenal gland in one. The mean anesthesia time was 205.7 min and the mean surgical time 141.2 min. Surgical morbidity was one adrenal vein injury sectioned close to the vena cava: the hemorrhage was controlled by laparoscopic suturing without conversion. No mortality occurred and postoperative morbidity was one minor chest infection. The mean postoperative stay in hospital was 3.7 days (range 2.8) for the non converted patients. Laparoscopic adrenal gland removal is safe and offers fast recovery and short hospital stay. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy combines the advantages of both the conventional anterior and posterior approach.

CONCLUSIONS

Personal experience of laparoscopic adrenal gland removal is described: a safe adrenal vascular control and gland dissection were performed and the length of operation and postoperative course carefully presented.