Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma: comparison with conventional open adrenalectomy

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness and efficacy of laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenalectomy (LTA) with those of open adrenalectomy (OA) in patients with pheochromocytoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among 24 patients (13 male, 11 female) who underwent surgical removal of pheochromocytoma, LTA and OA were performed in 15 and 9, respectively. The mean age was 45.2 years in the LTA group and 43.3 years in the OA group, and the mean tumor size was 5.2 +/- 2.0 (SE) cm and 6.4 +/- 2.6 cm, respectively. Retrospective analysis of their clinical outcomes was performed. The mean follow-up for OA and LTA groups was 36 months and 22 months, respectively. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 171 +/- 66.7 minutes in the LTA group and 200 +/- 73.3 minutes in the OA group. The mean blood loss was 189.5 +/- 50.4 mL and 397.1 +/- 144.7 mL, respectively (P = 0.0341). The mean number of intraoperative hypertensive crises was 0.6 +/- 0.5 during LTA and 1.67 +/- 1.1 during OA (P = 0.0146). In the LTA group, there were no conversions to open surgery and no intraoperative complications, and the blood pressure was well managed intraoperatively without medication. The mean time to oral intake was 1.1 +/- 0.3 days after LTA and 2.6 +/- 1.3 days after OA (P = 0.0037). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 5.6 +/- 2.0 days in the LTA group and 12.4 +/- 3.5 days in the OA group (P = 0.0001). Patient-controlled analgesia was needed by 2 patients (13.3%) in the LTA group and 6 (66.7%) in the OA group (P = 0.0413). In the OA group, three pneumothoraces and one case of sepsis occurred. After a mean follow-up of 36 months, two patients in the OA group redeveloped hypertension. With a mean follow-up of 22 months, none of the 15 LTA patients redeveloped hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma is a safe and effective prodcedure providing the benefits of a minimally invasive approach.     

Prospective randomized comparison of laparoscopic versus open adrenalectomy for sporadic pheochromocytoma

Background  Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma remains subject of debate, owing to the systemic consequences of pneumoperitoneum in patients with catecholamine-secreting tumors. Methods  A prospective randomized study was conducted (2000–2006), evaluating cardiovascular instability during open (n = 9, group A) or laparoscopic (n = 13, group B) adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma. Haemodynamic parameters were recorded by invasive monitoring. Results  Haemodynamic instability was observed in 3/9 (group A) and 6/13 patients (group B), with a mean of 1.8 and 2.2 hypertensive peaks per patient (p = n.s.). Blood loss (164 ± 94 cc versus 48 ± 36 cc, p < 0.05) and operative time (180 ± 40 versus 158 ± 45 min, p = n.s.) favored laparoscopic procedures. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were nil. Hospital stay was shorter in group B (p < 0.05). Long-term follow-up was always normal. Conclusions  Laparoscopic approach for pheochromocytoma can be as safe as open surgery; intraoperative haemodynamic instability, although usually controlled with success, remains a source of concern.     

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma: morbidity compared with adrenalectomy for tumors of other pathology

PURPOSE: We report our experience with laparoscopic adrenalectomy in nine patients with pheochromocytoma and compare the morbidity with that of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for tumors of other pathology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1997 and November 1999, nine patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for pheochromocytoma via a transperitoneal approach. Of the patients, eight had solitary tumors, and one presented with bilateral pheochromocytomas. The mean size of the tumors was 5.4 cm. The surgical outcomes of the 9 patients were compared with those of 28 patients with adrenal tumors of other pathology (primary aldosteronism in 15 patients, Cushing syndrome in 6, and nonfunctioning adenoma in 7) who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy during the same period. The mean size of the adrenal tumors of other pathology was 2.4 cm. RESULTS: In eight of the nine patients with pheochromocytoma, laparoscopic adrenalectomy was successful. The procedure was converted to open surgery in the patient with bilateral tumors because of uncontrollable hemorrhage. A hypertensive crisis with the systolic blood pressure >200 mm Hg occurred in 6 patients (67%), but the episode could be controlled by temporary discontinuation of tumor manipulation, administration of drugs, or both. In adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma, the mean operative time was longer (199 v 177 minutes) and the mean estimated blood loss was greater (360 v 54 mL) than for tumors of other pathology. Blood transfusion was given to two patients with pheochromocytoma but to no patient with tumors of other pathology. The patients with adrenal tumors of other pathology could resume normal activity earlier (mean 18 v 26 days) than those with pheochromocytoma. CONCLUSION: The operation is more difficult and the morbidity is higher in laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma than that for tumors of other pathology. An experienced team of surgeons with advanced laparoscopic skills and anesthesiologists is mandatory. In large tumors, great caution should be taken for intraoperative complications. Nevertheless, laparoscopic adrenalectomy is not contraindicated for pheochromocytoma and can be performed safely.     

Laparoscopic lateral adrenalectomy versus open posterior adrenalectomy for the treatment of benign adrenal tumors

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive techniques play an important role in adrenal gland surgery. The objective of this study was to compare laparoscopic transabdominal adrenalectomy in the lateral position to the open posterior adrenalectomy with respect to the intraoperative and the short-term postoperative course. METHODS: Forty laparoscopic adrenalectomies (LA) carried out between July 1998 and August 2001 were compared to 30 open posterior operations (PA) performed between July 1994 and June 1998. In all cases the indications for surgery was a benign lesion smaller than 8 cm. RESULTS: Age, gender, tumor size, and distribution of the tumor histology were comparable in both groups (LA vs PA). In favor of LA, statistically significant differences (p <0.05) were observed regarding the intraoperative blood loss (260 vs 380 mL), the postoperative narcotic equivalents (2.9 vs 6.4 mg), the morbidity rate (13 vs 27%), and the length of hospital stay (7 vs 10 days). Average operating time was significantly longer for LA (135 vs 106 min). There were two conversions to open adrenalectomy due to diffuse bleeding. Following LA, we observed one major complication (postoperative bleeding from the spleen making a laparotomy necessary) and four minor complications (one small retroperitoneal hematoma, two subcostal nerve irritations, one pleural effusion). PA resulted in one major (wound infection) and seven minor complications (two subcutaneous hematomas, two nerve irritations, two pleural effusions, one dystelectasis). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy proved as a safe and reliable procedure, displaying all advantages of minimal access surgery. In our institution, it has become the standard technique employed for benign adrenal disease. However, the operation is technically demanding, and as adrenal surgery is rare, it should be restricted to centers with special interest in laparoscopic and endocrine surgery.     

Retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma: comparison with open surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility of the retroperitoneoscopic approach to adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma and to compare it with the open retroperitoneal approach. METHODS: Twelve retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies for pheochromocytomas were performed in 10 patients at our center between January 1996 and January 2001. Two patients underwent simultaneous bilateral surgeries. These were retrospectively compared with open adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma through the extraperitoneal flank approach in 6 patients with 7 adrenalectomies, conducted during the same period. RESULTS: Retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy could be successfully performed in 11 cases with 1 conversion to open surgery. Mean operative time was 151 minutes (range, 90 to 200 min). This was comparable to the time for the open surgery group, 169 minutes (range, 85 to 270 min). However, the mean blood loss of 140 mL (range, 30 to 300 mL), hospital stay of 4.4 days, and analgesia doses required (3.3) were significantly lower than those for the open surgery group (592 mL, 9.8 days, and 8.1 doses, respectively). No significant intraoperative hypertensive crises occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneoscopy is a safe and feasible option for adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma. It requires shorter operative time, less postoperative analgesia, a shorter hospitalization, and blood loss is less. Although retroperitoneoscopy is widely practiced for other adrenal tumors, it should now also be considered for pheochromocytomas.     

腹腔镜肾上腺切除术和开放肾上腺切除术治疗肾上腺巨大良性肿瘤的比较

目的：了解腹腔镜肾上腺切除术（1aparoscopicadrenalectomy,LA）和开放肾上腺切除术（openadre—nalectomy,OA）治疗肾上腺巨大（〉6cm）良性肿瘤的差别。方法：分析2009年1月～2011年12月手术治疗的50例肾上腺巨大良性肿瘤的l陆床特点。其中LA组26例,OA组24例。比较两组年龄、肿瘤大小、手术时间、术中出血量、住院时间、切口长度;LA组嗜铬细胞瘤切除6例,OA组嗜铬细胞瘤切除7例,比较两者术中血流动力学变化。结果：术后病理为肾上腺腺瘤2例,节细胞神经瘤10例,嗜铬细胞瘤13例,髓样脂肪瘤19例,肾上腺囊肿伴出血3例,神经鞘膜瘤2例,肾上腺巨淋巴结增生（Castleman病）1例。LA组和OA组比较,平均年龄分别为（45．3±15．6）岁和（52．2±13．2）岁（P=0．069）;肿瘤直径分别为（7．75±1．26）cm和（8．38±1．96）cm（P=0．098）;平均手术时间分别为（65．2±23．4）min和（126．9±32．5）min（P〈0．01）;出血量分别为（,54．1±19．5）m1和（205．0±49．6）ml（P〈O．01）;住院时间分别为（4．8±1．6）d和（7．6±2．1）d（P〈0．01）;切口长度分别为（7．56±2．06）cm和（18．28±3．25）cm（P〈O．01）。LA组无一例发生手术相关并发症或中转开放;（）A组冈肾血管损伤行一侧肾切除1例。LA组切除嗜铬细胞瘤术中最高收缩压和心率低于OA组（P〈O．05）。术后随访3～26个月,肿瘤无复发。结论：尽管I。A需延长切口取出肿瘤,但与OA相比,切除肾上腺巨大良性肿瘤仍具有手术时间短、出血少、创伤小、恢复快等优势。     

Laparoscopic ultrasound imaging of adrenal tumors during laparoscopic adrenalectomy

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS) during laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) and to define the ultrasound imaging characteristics of various adrenal tumors. METHODS: LUS was utilized in 27 patients who underwent LA (including one bilateral adrenalectomy) from May 1994 to October 1998. Tumor size ranged from 1.0 to 5.5 cm (mean 3.3 cm), and a transabdominal lateral approach to LA was used. RESULTS: LUS localized the adrenal gland and tumor in all 28 adrenalectomies and demonstrated the relationship of the tumor to the kidney and adjacent vascular structures (renal artery/vein and inferior vena cava). The adrenal vein was visualized sonographically in only six cases (21 %). Pheochromocytomas were mild to markedly heterogenous, whereas most aldosteronomas and cortical adenomas were homogenous. LUS provided useful information to the surgeon in 11 of 28 cases (39%) by: 1) localizing the adrenal gland and tumor and/or guiding the dissection; 2) demonstrating that tumors > or =4 cm were confined to the adrenal gland; and 3) investigating suspected pathology in other organs. Mean operating time for LUS was 10.9 min (range 5 to 24 min) and calculated hospital charges were $602. CONCLUSIONS: LUS accurately localizes adrenal tumors, helps define their relationship to adjacent structures, and provides confirmation that larger tumors are amenable to laparoscopic resection. LUS is a useful adjunct to laparoscopic adrenalectomy in selected patients.     

腹腔镜手术治疗肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤

目的 评价腹腔镜手术治疗肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤的安全性及临床价值.方法 对25例肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤患者采用腹腔镜经腹腔途径手术治疗.结果 25例全部成功,无1例中转开放手术,无严重并发症发生.肿瘤最大径1.5～10.8 em,平均4.8 cm;手术时间45～130 min,平均70 min;术中出血量30～180 ml,平均65 ml,均未输血;术后住院4～7天,平均6.1天;术后病理检查证实均为肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤.全部病例获得随访6～72个月,患者血压正常,B超或CT复查均未见肿瘤复发.结论 腹腔镜手术治疗肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤具有手术时间短,出血少、损伤小、恢复快、安全性高、并发症少等优点,可替代开放手术.     

Surgical options in adrenalectomy: laparoscopic versus open surgery

Small hormone-active benign tumors are considered as clear indication for laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Laparoscopy resection of pheochromocytomas is still a controversial issue, but recent data have shown that the specific risks of pheochromocytoma surgery are not increased by the laparascopic approach. The majority of endoscopic adrenalectomies are performed via the transperitoneal route, but there is growing interest in the retroperitoneoscopic approach. The advantages and disadvantages of each endoscopic approach have to be weighed carefully, but the final decision will also depend on the experience of the surgeon. Several retrospective studies have compared laparoscopy with open surgery. There is general agreement that laparoscopy is superior to open surgery since it is associated with less pain, a shorter hospital stay, and more rapid return to normal activities, and also yields the best cosmetic and long-term results. Partial adrenalectomy may be indicated for bilateral pheochromocytoma, and also has advantages for patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas. The feasibility of laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy has been demonstrated. Laparoscopic intraoperative ultrasonography is valuable in selected cases. The already low morbidity of laparoscopic adrenalectomy can be reduced further by using needlescopic techniques.     

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large adrenal tumors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy remains a controversial procedure for large tumors. We examined the outcome and complications of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for such lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 178 patients underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy, of whom 29 patients had large (>or =5 cm) tumors. Their mean age was 47.9 years (range 21-72 years), and the mean tumor size was 6.5 cm (range 5.0-11.0 cm). They were compared with patients whose adrenal tumors were <5 cm. RESULTS: The large-tumor group had a mean operating time of 176 +/- 48 minutes (range 84-278 minutes) and a mean blood loss of 136.6 mL (range 10-800 mL) and required a mean of 1.8 days before starting oral intake. None of these values is significantly different from the results in the control group (P > 0.05). The length of recovery was significantly longer in the large-tumor group (5.4 v 4.5 days; P < 0.05), but this was not true if a patient with a 23-day postoperative stay is excluded. The overall incidence of complications was 12% in the large-tumor group, which was not significantly different from that in the control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The operating time, blood loss, and incidence of complications after laparoscopic adrenalectomy did not differ between the patients with large and small adrenal tumors, indicating that experienced surgeons can safely and effectively use laparoscopy for larger tumors. However, it is necessary to consider carefully whether laparoscopic surgery is indicated for tumors that show infiltration on preoperative imaging or for patients who have undergone previous upper-retroperitoneal surgery.     

Laparoscopic and open surgery for pheochromocytoma

Backround  

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a promising alternative to open surgery although concerns exist in regard to laparoscopic treatment of pheocromocytoma. This report compares the outcome of laparoscopic and conventional (open) resection for pheocromocytoma particular in regard to intraoperative hemodynamic stability and postoperative patient comfort.     

Comparison of laparoscopic versus open surgery for adrenal tumor

We performed 25 laparoscopic adrenalectomies for adrenal tumor between January 1998 and December 2000. In 23 cases, adrenal tumors were successfully removed laparoscopically, but in 2, the laparoscopic procedure was converted to open surgery because of liver injury and endoscopically uncontrolled bleeding at the renal hilum. Postoperative complications, involving retroperitoneal hematoma, hypercapnia, and wound infections, could be managed without surgical treatment. We compared laparoscopic adrenalectomy with conventional open surgery, which had been performed for 24 adrenal tumors in our clinic. The mean operative time for the laparoscopic adrenalectomy (228.8 +/- 65.5 minutes) was significantly longer than those for the open surgery (156.0 +/- 43.8 minutes). The estimated blood loss (82.3 +/- 125.4 g) was significantly less than those for the open surgery (210.8 +/- 167.7 g), and the laparoscopic adrenalectomy had significant advantages in lessening postoperative analgesic requirements, shortening postoperative recovery period, and preserving good physical appearance. Therefore, we conclude that the laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a less invasive surgery, and is acceptable as a standard operation for adrenal tumors.     

后腹腔镜手术与开放肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤手术疗效的比较

目的:评价后腹腔镜手术治疗肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤的临床效果。方法:对后腹腔镜手术治疗肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤患者19例(后腹腔镜手术组)与同期行开放手术治疗肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤患者14例(开放手术组)进行疗效比较。结果:后腹腔镜手术组:19例均成功;肿瘤最大直径1.8~9.5(4.1±1.7)cm;手术时间40~180(90±35)min;出血量15~100(40±25)ml;术后止痛剂应用次数1次;术后下床活动时间2~4(2.1±0.4)天;术后住院时间4~8(6.0±1.5)天。开放手术组:14例均成功;肿瘤最大直径2.1~11.5(3.9±1.5)cm;手术时间95~260(140±41)min;出血量100~700(310±118)ml,6例输血;术后止痛剂应用次数5次;术后下床活动时间4~7(5.1±0.9)天;术后住院时间8~12(9.1±1.2)天。结论:对有较丰富腹腔镜手术经验的术者,后腹腔镜肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤手术显著优于传统开放手术,具有安全、有效、创伤小、疼痛轻、康复快、住院时间短等优点,可作为治疗肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤的首选方法。     

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma

Background: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for Conn's syndrome, Cushing's disease, cortisol-producing adenomas, and nonfunctioning adenomas has been well established. This study was intended to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma, and to assess the efficacy and safety of a minimally invasive approach. Methods: Data were collected prospectively on all patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma over a 5-year period. Results: In this study, 39 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic resection of a pheochromocytoma: 38 adrenal (23 left, 15 right) and 1 extraadrenal paraganglioma. There were no conversions to open surgery. The mean tumor size was 5.2 cm (range, 2-12.1 cm). Average operative time was 159 min (range, 100-265 min), and average estimated blood loss was 72 ml (range, 30-350 ml). Intraoperative hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 170 mmHg) occurred in 67% of the patients, and hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg) in 39% of the patients. The mean length of stay was 2.1 days (range, 1-4 days). There were three minor postoperative complications. During a mean follow-up period of 14 months, there were no mortalities or recurrences of endocrinopathy. Conclusions: Laparoscopic resection of pheochromocytomas can be accomplished safely despite frequent episodes of hemodynamic variability equal to those of historic open control subjects. A short hospital stay with expedient recovery,minimal wound complications, and lack of endocrinopathy recurrence makes a minimally invasive approach the procedure of choice for the management of pheochromoctyoma.     

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma

Background Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe and effective treatment for most surgical diseases of the adrenal gland. However it has been suggested that catecholamine effects associated with pheochromocytoma render the laparoscopic approach a more challenging and a more morbid procedure. The purpose of this study was to compare the operative characteristics and outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma to those of aldosteronoma and incidentaloma.Method Patient records and operative reports were retrospectively reviewed for demographics, diagnoses, operative management, and outcomes for patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy between June 1994 and July 2002 at two academic medical centers. A total of 74 patients were included and analyzed by diagnosis. Differences were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.Results Twenty-eight patients with pheochromocytoma, 27 with aldosteronoma, and 19 with incidentally discovered nonfunctioning adrenal masses underwent laparascopic adrenalectomy. Patients undergoing resection for pheochromocytoma trended toward more operative blood loss (150 ml) compared to aldosteronoma (88 ml) and incidentaloma (75 ml). Eight patients were converted to an open procedure for a 10.8% conversion rate. The mean operative time was 171 min and there was a 10.8% perioperative complication rate. The mean hospital stay was 3.4 days. These results were not statistically significant between diagnostic groups.Conclusion Despite concern about increased operative times and morbidity associated with pheochromocytoma, our experience supports that laparoscopic adrenalectomy may be performed as safely as, and achieve outcomes similar to, those for other diseases.Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Los Angeles, California, USA, March 2003     

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become the standard technique for the surgical removal of the adrenal gland for functional adrenal tumors including aldosteronoma, glucocorticoid, and androgen/estrogen-producing adenomas. Many laparoscopic surgeons also think that for small to moderately sized pheochromocytomas, the laparoscopic approach is as safe and effective as the open technique. Several physiologic considerations specific to pheochromocytoma must be addressed before and during surgery regardless of the operative approach. The advantages of laparoscopic adrenalectomy over open adrenalectomy remain the same for pheochromocytomas as for other pathologic conditions of the adrenal gland. These include a shorter length of stay, a decrease in postoperative pain, a shorter time to return to preoperative activity level, and improved cosmesis.     

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma

aparoscopic adrenalectomy is the standard for most surgical adrenal diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for patients with pheochromocytoma. The medical records of 39 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytomas from 1994 to 2000 at the University of California-San Francisco were reviewed. Three groups of patients were identified. The first group comprised 17 patients with classic symptoms and signs of pheochromocytoma. The second group comprised 17 patients who had minimal symptoms and incidentally discovered pheochromocytoma (i.e., "incidentaloma"), almost half of whom inappropriately underwent fine-needle biopsies before diagnosis. The third group consisted of 5 patients who had acute hypertensive crises and required intensive preoperative preparation. The mean age of the 22 men and 17 women was 46 years (range 20-84 years), and the mean adrenal tumor size was 4.8 cm (range 2-12 cm). A total of 43 laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed for 35 patients with unilateral tumors and 4 patients with bilateral tumors. The retroperitoneal approach was used in four patients and the lateral transabdominal approach in the remaining patients without conversion to an open operation. There were no intraoperative complications or mortality. The mean duration of hospitalization was 1.7 days. In conclusion, patients with pheochromocytoma have a wide spectrum of presentations, from minimal symptoms to hypertensive crises. When evaluating an incidentaloma, pheochromocytoma should be excluded by metabolic testing, not by needle biopsy. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the preferred surgical approach for patients with pheochromocytoma because it is safe and efficacious.