EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY OF LAPAROSCOPIC ADRENALECTOMY

A laparoscopic approach was used to remove the adrenal gland in 7 pati ents with aldosterone-producing adenoma (Conn's disease), 2 with corti costeroid-producing adenoma (pituitary-independent Cushing's syndrome) and 2 with pheochromocytoma. The affected gland was on the right side in 3 patients and on the left side in 8. Mean operative time was 3 ho urs 10 minutes (range 140 to 370 minutes). The operation was uneventfu l in all patients and blood transfusions were never required. Mean pos toperative hospitalization was 2.9 +/- 0.8 days (standard error). Only minimal doses of analgesics were used postoperatively. All patients r eturned to work within 10 days postoperatively (mean 8.4 +/- 1.2 days) . Two months postoperatively no patient had clinical, biochemical or h ormonal evidence of recurrent or persistent disease. We conclude that laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe and effective, minimally invasive approach for patients with benign adrenal neoplasms.