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Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma. A comparison to aldosteronoma and incidentaloma.

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.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Changing pattern of the intraoperative blood pressure during endoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with Conn's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperaldosteronism caused by an aldosterone-producing adenoma of the adrenal gland is regarded as the most common type of endocrine hypertension. The aim of this study was to analyze the changing pattern of the intraoperative blood pressure during endoscopic adrenalectomy recorded in patients with Conn's syndrome compared to patients with hormone-inactive incidentaloma and its possible influence by the surgical approach. METHODS: From February 1994 to March 2004, 40 patients underwent endoscopic adrenalectomy for Conn's syndrome. All patients had arterial hypertension over a median period of 84 (5-240) months and were pretreated with an aldosterone antagonist in 76.3% and with specific antihypertensive medication in 85%. Over the same period of time, endoscopic adrenalectomy was carried out in 80 patients with incidentaloma. Of these, 41 (53.2%) displayed arterial hypertension requiring drug therapy. RESULTS: The adrenal gland was resected using the retroperitoneal in 25 and the transperitoneal approach in 15 patients with Conn's syndrome. Conversion to an open procedure was required in two patients. Intraoperative increases in blood pressure necessitating antihypertensive therapy were observed in 17 of 40 patients (44.7%), in 11 of 40 patients (28.9%) blood pressure peaks of >200 mmHg (> 1 min) were noted. Differences between the preoperative and maximum intraoperative blood pressure were significant for the retroperitoneal approach only (systolic: p = 0.0001; diastolic: p = 0.0005), but not for the transperitoneal technique. The increase in intraoperative blood pressure in patients with Conn's syndrome was significantly higher, for both systolic (p < 0.0001) and diastolic (p = 0.0037) readings, compared to that in patients with incidentaloma undergoing endoscopic adrenalectomy during the same period of time. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that relevant intraoperative increases in blood pressure occur in patients with Conn's syndrome despite prior therapy with an aldosterone antagonist, necessitating specific precautionary measures during anesthesia. Intraoperative blood pressure was significantly higher for the retroperitoneal than for the transperitoneal procedure, which leads us to advocate the latter approach for endoscopic adrenalectomy.

Adrenalectomy↗

Endoscopic adrenalectomy: an analysis of the transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches and results of a prospective follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic adrenalectomy is currently performed using either a retroperitoneal or transperitoneal approach. The aim of this study was to determine which of these is the optimal surgical technique in a prospectively designed analysis of a large series of patients operated on by a single team over a 10-year period. METHODS: From February 1994 to March 2004, 267 endoscopic adrenalectomies (retroperitoneal in 132 patients and transperitoneal in 135 patients) were performed in 245 consecutive patients. There were 102 right lateral and 121 left lateral procedures (22 patients had a bilateral procedure). The most prevalent indication was incidentaloma (35.9%), followed by pheochromocytoma and Conn's adenoma. RESULTS: The endoscopic procedure was performed in 238 of 245 patients (97.1%). The conversion rate was 1.5% for the transperitoneal approach and 3.8% for the retroperitoneal approach. No statistically significant influence was noted for the parameters of intraoperative blood loss, rate of postoperative complications, and duration of hospital stay with regard to the surgical technique. The operative time and the learning curve proved to be significantly longer for the retroperitoneal adrenalectomy. In addition, a variance analysis identified tumor size (>5 cm) as a significant factor influencing the operative time, whereas body mass index and localization (right/left lateral) did not prove significant. CONCLUSION: Independent of the underlying pathology, endoscopic adrenalectomy using either the trans- or retroperitoneal approach can be performed in 96-98% of all patients. Differences between the two techniques in operative time and learning curves clearly favor the transperitoneal adrenalectomy.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗

Anterior, lateral, and posterior retroperitoneal approaches in endoscopic adrenalectomy.

BACKGROUND: Three approaches are currently used for endoscopic adrenalectomy-the lateral (transperitoneal), the posterior (retroperitoneal), and the anterior (transperitoneal). Both the lateral and posterior approaches are performed with the patient placed in the flank decubitus position; in the anterior approach the patient is supine. This study was designed to compare these three types of access in a relatively large series of patients undergoing adrenalectomy at three different institutions. METHODS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed in 216 patients with a variety of adrenal disorders, including 66 patients with Conn's syndrome, 55 with incidentaloma, 58 with Cushing's syndrome, 33 with pheochromocytoma, two with virilizing adrenogenital syndrome, and two with other lesions. Seventy-two adrenalectomies were performed using the lateral access, 67 via the posterior approach, and 77 via the transperitoneal anterior approach. There were 111 right and 105 left lesions. RESULTS: One patient in the lateral access group and three patients in the posterior group required conversion to open surgery. No conversions were needed in the anterior group. The learning curve was statistically significant only in the anterior access group. In both of the transperitoneal approaches (lateral and anterior), a statistically significant correlation was found between the operative time and the patient's body mass index (BMI). The postoperative hospital stay and time needed to return to normal activities were similar for the three groups. One patient who underwent retroperitoneal adrenalectomy for Cushing' disease died in the postoperative period of Candida sepsis and peritonitis. CONCLUSIONS: The anterior access route requires that the surgeon be skilled in advanced laparoscopic surgery. Both of the transperitoneal approaches (anterior and lateral) are suitable to remove larger adrenal masses. The posterior access may represent a better option in obese patients or in cases with small lesions.

Adolescent↗

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for benign adrenal neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: Since first reported in 1992, laparoscopic adrenalectomy has been used to remove a wide variety of adrenal neoplasms. Indications for use of this technique have not been clearly defined, nor has it been demonstrated to be more cost effective than open adrenalectomy. METHODS: A retrospective comparison was made of 19 consecutive laparoscopic and open adrenalectomies performed in patients with benign adrenal neoplasms in a tertiary-care university teaching hospital over a 3-year period. RESULTS: The two groups were well matched for side of tumor and age. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was completed in 11 of 12 patients in whom it was attempted. The laparoscopic group had significantly smaller tumor size; shorter operative time, postoperative ileus, and postoperative stay; and decreased operative blood loss and postoperative narcotic requirement. There were no significant differences between groups for operating room or hospital charges. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is cost effective and should be the preferred treatment for patients with small benign adrenal neoplasms.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Laparoscopic bilateral partial adrenalectomy for adrenocortical adenomas causing Cushing's syndrome: report of a case.

Laparoscopic total adrenalectomy has become a standard technique for small adrenal tumors; however, bilateral adrenalectomy results in postoperative adrenal insufficiency, necessitating lifelong steroid replacement. To preserve adrenocortical function in a 41-year-old woman with bilateral adrenocortical adenoma (BAA) causing Cushing's syndrome, we performed laparoscopic bilateral partial adrenalectomy. We based our preoperative diagnosis of bilateral adrenocortical tumors causing Cushing's syndrome on the results of endocrinological investigations and imaging findings. Thus, we performed lateral transperitoneal laparoscopic bilateral partial adrenalectomy, preserving the adrenal glands, which were normal. Pathological examination of both tumors confirmed the diagnosis of adrenocortical adenoma. The patient had no postoperative complications, and her adrenocortical function was normal without steroid replacement at her 10-month follow-up. This report shows that Cushing's syndrome resulting from bilateral adenomas can be effectively treated by laparoscopic bilateral partial adrenalectomy as a minimally invasive, adrenocortical-preserving operation.

Adrenalectomy↗

Modulation of benzodiazepine receptor binding in mouse brain by adrenalectomy and steroid replacement.

Adrenal steroids alter neuronal excitability in the central nervous system (CNS), and evidence from in vitro studies indicates that at least some of these effects are mediated by the GABAergic system. Benzodiazepine receptor binding, among other sites on the GABA complex, has been implicated in steroid-induced alterations in the CNS. To investigate the modulation of benzodiazepine receptor binding by adrenal steroids, we examined receptor binding determined by an in vivo technique in mice after adrenalectomy, hypophysectomy and after replacement with several naturally occurring and synthetic steroids. Benzodiazepine receptor binding was substantially augmented in cortex, hypothalamus, and hippocampus in mice 1 week after adrenalectomy, and these increases appeared to be due to increased receptor number rather than changes in apparent affinity. Similar results in cortex were found after hypophysectomy. Replacement with physiologic, but not lower doses, of corticosterone reversed the changes induced by adrenalectomy. Chronic treatment with deoxycorticosterone also returned binding to control values, but chronic administration with dexamethasone, aldosterone and dihydroprogesterone did not alter binding after adrenalectomy. Adrenalectomy did not alter non-specific binding or GABA concentrations in cortex, and delivery of radioligand did not appear to be affected. These results indicate that adrenal steroids modulate benzodiazepine receptor binding in vivo, perhaps via the CR subtype of corticosteroid receptors. The steroid-benzodiazepine interaction may be especially important in the stress response.

20-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone↗

Adrenalectomy increases the number of substance P and somatostatin immunoreactive nerve cells in the rat lumbar dorsal root ganglia.

Using an immunocytochemical technique we have analyzed changes in substance P, somatostatin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and galanin immunoreactivity pattern in the rat dorsal root ganglia. After 7 days of adrenalectomy, sham operated rats were compared with adrenalectomized animals either receiving a daily intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg b.wt. corticosterone or vehicle. Three lumbar ganglia from each animal were blocked, serially cut, and immunostained for each neuropeptide by means of the biotin-avidin-peroxidase technique. A systematic sampling of immunoreactive ganglion cells was performed and the sample number of immunoreactive ganglion cells was calculated. After adrenalectomy, the number of substance P and somatostatin immunoreactive ganglion cells markedly increased ((means +/- S.E.M.): 245 +/- 68 versus 123 +/- 12 for sham operated animals, P < 0.01 (substance P) and 42 +/- 8 as compared to 22 +/- 9 for sham operated animals, P < 0.01 (somatostatin)). No significant changes were found in the number of calcitonin gene-related peptide and galanin immunoreactive cells after adrenalectomy. These results suggest that adrenal steroid hormones may reduce the synthesis of both substance P and somatostatin in the dorsal root ganglion cells. Daily treatment with a high dose of corticosterone, mimicking its serum levels after stress, failed to prevent the increase of peptide contents after adrenalectomy. These observations also indicate that a tonic action of corticosterone on mineralocorticoid receptors may be crucial for peptide regulation in the spinal ganglia. These results may be of relevance to adrenalectomy induced changes in sensory mechanisms, neurogenic inflammation and pain transmission and to a role of substance P and somatostatin in these processes.

Adrenalectomy↗

Regulation of ischemic hippocampal damage in the gerbil: adrenalectomy alters the rate of CA1 cell disappearance.

Adrenalectomy protects hippocampal pyramidal cells from transient ischemia in rats. We hypothesized that this effect of adrenalectomy could be generalized to the gerbil. We determined the effect of glucocorticoid manipulation on hippocampal CA1 cell death following transient forebrain ischemia in the gerbil. Adrenalectomy diminished hippocampal damage when performed immediately following transient forebrain ischemia, as in the rat, while glucocorticoid administration resulted in an increase in CA1 pyramidal cell damage. Furthermore adrenalectomy 24 h after the ischemic injury diminished hippocampal damage to roughly the same extent as immediate adrenalectomy. However, if gerbils were examined at longer survival periods after ischemia, the difference in hippocampal damage between adrenalectomized and sham-adrenalectomized was lost. These findings suggest that glucocorticoids influence the rate of hippocampal pyramidal cell disappearance following ischemia. Manipulation of glucocorticoids could be an important adjunct to therapy for preventing ischemic brain damage.

Adrenalectomy↗

Interaction of adrenalectomy and fenfluramine treatment on body weight, food intake and brown adipose tissue.

Three experiments have examined the interaction of adrenalectomy and fenfluramine on food intake, body weight and the binding of guanosine-5'-diphosphate (GDP) to interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT). In the first experiment, GDP-binding by IBAT mitochondria from adrenalectomized or sham-operated animals was measured for 3 hr after one of 3 doses of fenfluramine. Fenfluramine stimulated GDP-binding at lower doses in the adrenalectomized animals than in the controls. In the first chronic experiment, adrenalectomy prevented the restoration of normal food intake observed 8-10 days after the beginning of fenfluramine treatment. Adrenalectomy also increased weight loss and enhanced GDP binding to mitochondria from IBAT in rats treated with fenfluramine. In the second chronic experiment, the combination of fenfluramine and adrenalectomy led to a progressive weight loss, continuing hypophagia and stimulation of GDP-binding by IBAT, whereas rats treated with fenfluramine alone showed a recovery of food intake at a stabilized but lower body weight. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that adrenalectomy and fenfluramine disable two separate components of the food intake system and that when combined, produce a profound and persisting disturbance in energy or nutrient balance.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗

Adrenalectomy-induced memory deficits: role of plasma glucose levels.

Circulating glucose levels regulate memory storage under several conditions. This study examined the contribution of blood glucose levels to the transient memory impairment seen in adrenalectomized rats. Inhibitory (passive) avoidance retention performance, blood glucose levels, and glycemic responses to footshock were tested 1, 2, and 8 days after adrenalectomy. Adrenalectomized animals demonstrated a transient inhibitory avoidance deficit 1 and 2 days after surgery which recovered by 8 days. The adrenalectomy-induced memory deficit was accompanied by decreased resting blood glucose levels. In animals tested 2 days after adrenalectomy, this decrease in baseline blood glucose levels was exacerbated by further reductions, rather than the normal increases, in circulating glucose levels after training. The magnitude of blood glucose increases after glucose injection was decreased in adrenalectomized animals tested 2 days after surgery. Posttraining glucose injections restored the retention performance of animals trained 2 days after adrenalectomy to that of sham-operated animals. These findings suggest that abnormalities in blood glucose regulation may contribute, in part, to the transient memory impairment seen after adrenalectomy. Additionally, the results further implicate blood glucose in the regulation of CNS information processing systems.

Adrenalectomy↗

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for patients who have Cushing's syndrome.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is one of the most significant advances in the past 20 years for treating adrenal disorders. When compared with open adrenalectomy, laparoscopic adrenalectomy is equally safe, effective, and curative; it is more successful in shortening hospitalization and convalescence and has less long-term morbidity. The laparoscopic approach is the procedure of choice for the surgical management of cortisol-producing adenomas and for patients who have corticotropin (ACTH)-dependent Cushing's syndrome for whom surgery failed to remove the source of ACTH. The keys to successful laparoscopic adrenalectomy are appropriate patient selection, knowledge of anatomy, delicate tissue handling, meticulous hemostasis, and experience with the technique of laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Adrenalectomy↗

The therapeutic value of adrenalectomy in case of solitary metastatic spread originating from primary renal cell cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Solitary adrenal metastases occur in about 1.2-10% of renal cell cancer patients. Since the vast majority of intraadrenal lesions can be detected preoperatively, we and others have recently recommended to renounce a routine adrenalectomy during surgery of renal cell cancer. However, the impact of adrenalectomy on the patients' clinical prognosis in case of a solitary metastatic lesion within the adrenal gland remains an issue of controversial discussion. Whereas some authors suggest adrenalectomy as a potentially curative treatment option in these cases, others compare its clinical value with that of a mere lymphadenectomy. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between 1981 and 2000, 648 patients (440 males and 208 females) underwent nephrectomy in combination with adrenalectomy in our clinic for the diagnosis of renal cell cancer. The median age at first diagnosis was 59 (range 33-84) and 60 (range 20-85) years for male and female patients, respectively. The median postoperative follow - up was 2.4 years (0.2-18 years). According to the TNM - classification system (2003) tumor stages were classified as follows: T1, 228 pat. (37%); T2, 70 pat. (11%); T3, 287 pat. (46%); T4, 37 pat. (6%). In total, 339 patients revealed regional lymph node or distant metastases at the time of the surgical treatment. Although metastases of the adrenal gland were diagnosed in 48 patients, solitary intraadrenal metastases without further systemic spread were observed in only 13 cases. Several patients' and tumor characteristics (age, tumor stage and size, the presence of regional lymph node metastases, the presence of metastatic lesions at different organ sites as well as the detection of solitary intraadrenal metastases) were correlated with the patients' overall survival by univariate and multivariate statistical analysis (logistic Cox regression analysis). RESULTS: The median long - term survival was 4.8 years for the entire cohort of patients investigated. The median long - term survival was 13.8 years and 11.7 years for patients with no evidence of metastatic spread as well as for patients with a solitary intraadrenal metastatic lesion, respectively. Accordingly, the long - term survival rates at 5 and 10 years after surgery were 66%/50% and 51%/51% for patients with no evidence of metastatic spread or isolated intraadrenal metastases. This difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, for patients revealing lymph node or distant metastases at other organ sites, the median long - term survival was significantly decreased (lymph node metastases: 0.7 years; distant metastases: 1.2 years). DISCUSSION: For patients with a solitary intraadrenal metastatic lesion, adrenalectomy is a potentially curative treatment option. The observation that the long - term survival of the latter patients is comparable to that of patients with organ - confined disease might suggest the establishment of a separate TNM - category for patients revealing a solitary metastasis within the adrenal gland and no hint at further systemic metastatic spread.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Clinical outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for lateralizing nodular hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND: Nodular adrenal hyperplasia (NAH) may mimic the biochemical characteristics of an aldosterone-producing adenoma. The authors evaluated the outcomes of unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy in the setting of lateralizing aldosterone hypersecretion by NAH. METHODS: Retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent a laparoscopic adrenalectomy for primary hyperaldosteronism owing to NAH was performed. Patient demographics, perioperative symptoms, medications, radiographic findings, and serum chemistries were analyzed. Response to operation was classified according to postoperative control of hypertension and hypokalemia as resolved, improved, or refractory. RESULTS: From January 1999 to October 2004, 15 patients underwent a laparoscopic unilateral adrenalectomy for hyperaldosteronism owing to lateralizing NAH. Nine (60%) patients presented with > or =5 years of hypertension, including 8 (53%) patients with labile or malignant hypertension. Ten (67%) patients had hypokalemia. Abdominal imaging results were normal in 9 (60%) patients. All patients underwent adrenal venous sampling (94% successfully), which revealed an average adjusted aldosterone ratio of 17.6 (range, 1.2 to 75.9). At a mean follow-up of 26 (range, 4 to 58) months, hypertension had resolved in 4 (27%), improved in 8 (53%), and was refractory in 3 (20%) patients. Hypokalemia resolved in all patients. There were no complications, conversions, or mortalities. CONCLUSION: This series shows that unilateral adrenalectomy for lateralizing NAH results in eradication of hypokalemia and resolution or significant improvement in hypertension in 80% of patients at long-term follow-up. When lateralization of aldosterone production is noted, laparoscopic adrenalectomy provides significant clinical improvement even in patients with a pathologic diagnosis of NAH.

Adrenal Glands↗

Open versus laparoscopic simultaneous bilateral adrenalectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare our experience with synchronous bilateral adrenalectomy using laparoscopic and open techniques. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become the reference standard for management of benign unilateral adrenal pathologic findings. METHODS: This was a nonrandomized retrospective chart review of 12 known patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral adrenalectomy, comparing five laparoscopic and seven open procedures. One urologic surgeon performed all laparoscopic cases, and one general surgeon performed all open procedures. RESULTS: All patients had Cushing's disease or syndrome. The average patient age was 47.4 years (range 24 to 71) and 42.4 years (range 19 to 70), with an average body mass index of 38.2 kg/m2 and 36.0 kg/m2 for the laparoscopic and open groups, respectively. The operating time was on average 60 minutes longer for the laparoscopic group. No open conversions were necessary. The median blood loss (100 versus 500 mL, P < 0.01) and hematocrit drop (8.5% versus 12.6%, P = 0.05) were lower for the laparoscopic group. The transfusion rates and hospital stay trended lower in the laparoscopic group (20% versus 57% and 3 versus 8.5 days, respectively). Specimen weights for both the right and left glands trended larger for the laparoscopic group. The complication rates were similar between groups at 60% for the laparoscopic versus 71% for the open groups. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy is safe and effective. Compared with the open approach, it resulted in decreased blood loss, lower transfusion rate, and a trend toward a shorter hospital stay, although the operating time was longer. The laparoscopic approach should be the treatment of choice for bilateral adrenalectomy.

Adrenalectomy↗

Laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy for aldosterone-producing adenomas with needlescopic instruments.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic total adrenalectomy is the treatment of choice for aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs). There have not been many reports of laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy, although this procedure offers benefits to patients with suspected bilateral APAs or an APA in a solitary adrenal gland. We describe the feasibility of a novel technique of laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy for APA solely using 2-mm working instruments and a 5 to 10-mm telescope. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Six unilateral and two bilateral partial adrenalectomies were performed laparoscopically. Only one umbilical 12-mm port for the telescope and two (for left adenomas) or three (for right adenomas) subcostal 2-mm working ports were used. Hemostasis and transection of adrenal tissues were performed using a 2-mm mini-bipolar coagulator and 2-mm scissors. RESULTS: All laparoscopic operations were successfully performed using only 2-mm working instruments and a 5 or 10-mm 30 degree telescope with no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Blood loss was minimal, and the operative times were comparable to those of previous reports. All patients had low pain scores, required minimal amounts of narcotics postoperatively, and reported excellent cosmetic results for the wounds. The pathologic examinations confirmed complete excision of all adenomas with intact capsules. The plasma aldosterone concentrations and renin activities returned to normal ranges postoperatively in all patients. At a mean follow-up of 25 months (range 13 to 48), 7 (87.5%) were cured of their hypertension and 1 had the hypertensive medications significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy for APAs using 2-mm working instruments and a 5 to 10-mm telescope is a safe and effective treatment alternative.

Adenoma↗

[Experiences with adrenalectomy in 1997. Apropos of 247 cases. A multicenter prospective study of the French-speaking Association of Endocrine Surgery].

STUDY AIM: The aim of this prospective study conducted by the AFCE was to analyze the indications, approach and results of all adrenalectomies performed during the year 1997 in 17 centers, active or specialized in endocrine surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During 1997, adrenalectomy was performed in 247 patients, 149 men and 98 women (mean age: 51 years). The lesion was located in the right side in 166 patients, in the left side in 99, in both sides in 28 patients and ectopic in four patients. Pheochromocytomas (n = 61), Conn adenomas (n = 50) and Cushing syndrome lesions (n = 48) were the most frequent in this series. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed in 172 patients (70%) through a transperitoneal approach in all cases except one, and by 'open' surgery in 75 patients (30%). RESULTS: In patients operated on by the laparoscopic approach, the mean duration of surgery was 132 min, and there were peroperative complications in 15 patients (8.7%), mainly hemorrhages. Conversion rate into laparotomy was 7%. In the postoperative course, there were three reoperations and two deaths, an early one in a patient reoperated for bleeding and a very late one in relation with necrotising acute pancreatitis. Mean duration of hospitalization was 5.8 d. Mean tumoral size was 49 mm. In patients operated on by 'open' surgery, the mean duration of surgery was 148 min. There was a postoperative complication in eight patients (10.6%), mostly hemorrhages, and two intraoperative deaths in relation with uncontrollable bleeding. Mean duration of hospitalization was 11 d. Mean tumoral size was 72 mm. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is now indicated for the majority of adrenal tumors. Several complications observed in this series were related to the learning curve in several centers. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the 'gold standard' in uni- or bilateral benign tumors no larger than 6 or 7 cm. 'Open' surgery is indicated in malignant tumors, especially in adreno-cortical carcinomas, and in all large tumors.

Adenoma↗

A case-controlled study of laparoscopic compared with open lateral adrenalectomy.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have been done regarding laparoscopic transperitoneal lateral adrenalectomy compared with open transretroperitoneal lateral adrenalectomy in a case-controlled fashion. METHODS: A case-controlled study of 40 laparoscopic and 40 open adrenalectomies was done in patients who were matched for age, gender, endocrine disorder, side and size of tumor, and area of body surface. Follow-up was complete in 92.5% of the patients, with a mean follow-up period of 30 months. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences (P <0.05) were present (laparoscopic versus open) when the following results were compared: estimated blood loss (40 g versus 172 g), operating time (147 versus 79 minutes), analgesic equivalents (2.9 versus 5.2 times), hospital stay (12 versus 18 days), and late morbidity (0% versus 47.5%). There were no statistically significant differences between the laparoscopic and open groups with regard to time to oral intake, time to walking, intraoperative and early complications, and total cost. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe technique that results in greater patient comfort, decrease in estimated blood loss, and earlier discharge than open adrenalectomy, with no increase in cost. It should be adopted as the technique of choice for the removal of functioning adenomas and for adrenal masses less than 6 cm in diameter.

Adenoma↗