TECHNIQUE AND RESULTS OF LAPAROSCOPIC ADRENALECTOMY

Objectives: Our technique of laparoscopic adrenalectomy as well as the results of this method are presented. Methods: Transperitoneal laparo scopic adrenalectomy was performed in 18 consecutive patients (10 righ t side, left side) for disease (7 patients), pheochromocytoma (6 patie nts), Gushing's syndrome (1 patient), and large inactive adenoma (4 pa tients). The tumor size ranged between 1 and 8 cm (mean 4.2). One of t he patients, who presented with Conn's disease and bilateral adenoma, underwent enucleation of the larger adenoma on the right side leaving the uninvolved portion of the adrenal gland intact. Results: The mean operative time was below 3 h; blood loss was minimal in all cases exce pt 2. Hypertensive crisis was not encountered in this series. The only postoperative complication seen was transient diabetes insipidus whic h occurred in 1 patient. Analgesics were required only on the first 2 postoperative days. Oral intake and ambulation were resumed within 24 h. Mean postoperative hospitalization was 4.6 days. Conclusions: In ou r hands, laparoscopic adrenalectomy proved to be associated with a low morbidity and few complications. In addition, it is one of the few pr ocedures where laparoscopy can compete with open surgery in terms of o perative time.