RETROPERITONEAL ADRENALECTOMY - OPEN OR ENDOSCOPIC

Conventional adrenalectomy requires relatively large incisions. To ass ess the value of retroperitoneal endoscopic adrenalectomy, a case-cont rol study was performed comparing the endoscopic technique to conventi onal posterior adrenalectomy. All patients had adrenal tumors less tha n 7 cm in diameter. Endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy required more operative time (90 vs. 60 minutes, p < 0.0001) than the open appr oach but was associated with Less blood loss (20 vs. 125 ml,p < 0.0001 ). Endoscopic adrenalectomy caused less pain postoperatively (p = 0.00 05) and was associated with fewer complications (p = 0.035). The hospi tal stay was shorter after endoscopic adrenalectomy than after open ad renalectomy (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, we advocate endoscopic retrop eritoneal adrenalectomy in patients with small adrenal tumors.