AIM: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is considered the standard technique for the surgical removal of the adrenal gland.
This report is about a 4-year single experience in our Endocrine and General Surgery Unit with laparoscopic adrenalectomy.
METHODS: A total of 24 lateral transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed. The indications for laparoscopic surgery were: aldosteronoma in 3 patients, pheochromocytoma in 6 patients, nonfunctioning adenoma in 6 patients, adenoma causing Cushing's syndrome in 3 patients, 1 lymphangioma-like adenomatoid tumor, 1 myelolipoma, 1 complicated adrenal cyst, 2 adrenocortical carcinomas, 1 lung metastasis.
RESULTS: All except two had successful laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Complication occurred in one patient. 3 patients underwent other associated laparoscopic procedures. Operative time ranged from 100 to 240 minutes for laparoscopic adrenalectomy, from 180 to 210 minutes in the cases with two associated laparoscopic procedures, 5 hours for bilateral adrenalectomy; the postoperative hospital stay for laparoscopic adrenalectomy ranged from 4 to 8 days (6,79 days) and from 7 to 13 days (9,12 days) for patients undergoing the open or converted procedure.
CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is technically feasible and reproducible. We evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for a variety of endocrine disorders except in the case of invasive carcinoma or large masses. "Antonio Cardarelli" Endocrine and General Surgery Unit in Naples is known as a specialized center for thyroid and parathyroid surgery; in future, we could also become a high-volume laparoscopic referral center for adrenal gland pathologies.
Written by:
Antonino A, Rosato A, Zenone P, Ranieri R, Maglio M, Lupone G, Gragnano E, Sangiuliano N, Docimo G, De Palma M. Are you the author?
Reference: Ann Ital Chir. 2012 Oct 29. pii: S0003469X12020428.
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23149926
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