[Endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy].
OBJECTIVE
To determine prospectively in consecutive patients the value of endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy.


METHODS
Between March 1994 and March 1995, endoscopic adrenalectomy via a retroperitoneal approach was performed in eleven patients (three men, eight women; median age 61 [48-73] years), unilateral in nine, bilateral in two. The procedure was indicated if the adrenal tumour was thought to be benign and no larger than 5 cm in diameter (two adrenal and two central Cushing's syndromes; three incidentally detected adrenal adenomas, two phaeochromocytomas, two Conn adenomas).


RESULTS
Twelve of the 13 procedures were successfully performed. In one case the primary incision in the mid-axillary line had been too large and no satisfactory pneumoretroperitoneum was achieved. Median duration of operation was 180 (125-330) min, and the intraoperative blood loss was 200 (125-330) ml. There were no postoperative complications and the median postoperative hospital stay was 6 days (3-12).


CONCLUSIONS
In small (up to 5 cm) adrenal tumours not suspected to be malignant the endoscopic retroperitoneal approach constitutes a sparing alternative to the conventional access to the adrenal gland.
D000236:Adenoma / Q000601:surgery; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000601:surgery; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000601:surgery; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D013997:Time Factors
Die endoskopische retroperitoneal Adrenalektomie.