Laparoscopic right and left adrenalectomies

Background: Laparoscopic approach for adrenalectomy was recently described and the operative technique is not yet well defined.Methods: Twenty-seven laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed between 1992 and 1995. There were 18 women and nine 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. Twelve right and 15 left glands were removed. Adrenal diseases were primary aldosteronism in 20 patients, nonfunctional adenoma in four patients, Cushing adenoma in two, and an adrenal cyst in one. Median adrenal gland size was 2.0 cm (range 0.5–8 cm).Results: Five patients were converted to laparotomy (18%)—for dissection problems in four and for an unrecognized gland in one. The median anesthesia time was 200 min and the median surgical time was 140 min. Operative morbidity was one adrenal vein injury sectioned close to the vena cava. The hemorrhage was controlled by laparoscopic suturing without conversion. This patient required a three-unit blood transfusion. No mortality occurred and postoperative morbidity was one minor chest infection. The median postoperative in-hospital stay was 4.6 days (range 2–8) for nonconverted patients.Conclusions: Laparoscopic adrenal gland removal is safe and offers fast recovery and short in-hospital stay. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy combines the advantages of both the conventional anterior and posterior approach.