RESULTS OF ENDOSCOPIC RETROPERITONEAL ADRENALECTOMY

Background: From March 1994 to August 1995 we performed extraperitonea l endoscopic adrenalectomy in 18 patients with adrenal gland tumors. M ethods: Two of these patients underwent bilateral adrenalectomy. For t he extraperitoneal approach a pneumoretroperitoneum was established an d three 10-mm trocars were inserted in the area of the conventional fl ank incision. Adrenalectomy was performed via these ports. Endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy was successful in 15 patients; three pat ients required a conventional operation via an extraperitoneal lumbar approach because of inadequate exposure of the adrenal gland. In patie nts with endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy median operative tim e amounted to 180 min (95-330). Results: No postoperative complication s were observed; median postoperative hospital stay was 5 days (3-12). Conclusions: The described approach produces rapid recovery and creat es less postoperative pain.