Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy
The following information are written to answer the FAQs related to laparoscopic adrenalectomy, andinclude:
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What is laparoscopic adrenalectomy?
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Who could benefit from Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy?
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Are all adrenal tumours suitable for laparoscopic surgery?
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What are the potential complications of laparoscopic adrenalectomy?
What is laparoscopic adrenalectomy?
Adrenal glands are two in number and are situated in the abdomen and lie just over each kidney. They produce chemicals that control several important prcesses in the body. Tumors of the adrenal glands are very rare, and most are non-cancerous (benign) and are treated by an operation to remove the gland called 'adrenalectomy'. This operation used to be carried out routinely through a long incision in the loin or abdomen (open operation), but is now performed in a considerable proportion of patients through a few small 'keyhole' incisions of 0.5-1.5 cm long (laparoscopic adrenalectomy).
What are the advantages of the laparoscopic approach to adrenalectomy?
Laparoscopic surgery is an ideal technique for removal of adrenal glands, as these glands are small structures and can be taken out through very small incisions. The benefits of this approach over open surgery include:
- Less pain after surgery
- Shorter hospital stay (1-3 days, compared with 7-10 days following open surgery)
- Faster recovery and return to full activity and employment
- Less blood loss during surgery
- Better cosmetic result
This operation however is technically demanding and the surgeon should be skilled in advanced laparoscopic techniques.
Who could benefits from Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy?
- Patients that have tumors of the adrenal glands producing excessive amounts of chemicals (hormones) with dameging effects on the body's regulatory mechanisms. These tumours include:
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Ocasionally a CT-scan of the abdomen incidentally identifies a swelling (tumour) on one of the adrenal glands, and blood tests reveal no excessive production of chemicals. These tumours are called "incidentallinomas'', and do not require surgery nless they are large (4 cm or more), or are getting bigger on repeat scanning a few months later.
Are all adrenal tumours suitable for laparoscopic surgery?
No. Patients with adrenal carcinoma or adrenal masses greater than 10 cm in diameter are not suitable for laparoscopic adrenalectomy and should undergo open surgery.
What are the potential complications of laparoscopic adrenalectomy?
Most patients tend to have a smooth recovery without any complications. However, just like an other surgery, complications may occur in a minority of patients and could include bleeding, infection, and bowel and blood pressure disturbances.
Conversion to an open operation may be needed if extreme difficulties were encountered during the laparoscopic surgery (1 in 20 patients), and may be associated with higher incidence of wound, chest and other complications.
