title: Laparoscopic left adrenalectomy for aldosteronoma: early Mayo Clinic experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate early results with laparoscopic left adrenalectomy in patients with an aldosteronoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records to Mayo patients in whom laparoscopic left adrenalectomy had been attempted for presumed aldosteronoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on the diagnosis, details about the procedure, occurrence of associated complications, and duration of recovery period were analyzed for all study patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the nine patients who underwent attempted laparoscopic left adrenalectomy, seven had aldosteronoma. In six of the seven patients, the procedure was successful. No preoperative mortality occurred, and morbidity was limited to prolonged ileus in one patient. Of the other five patients with successful results, all tolerated liquids within 24 hours after the procedure. The mean postoperative hospital stay for the six patients with successful laparoscopic procedures was 2.3 days, and four patients were dismissed within 48 hours after the procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe alternative for the management of aldosteronoma of the left adrenal gland.
authors.affiliation: Section of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery (R.T.S.), Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, USA.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Schlinkert
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van Heerden
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Segura
mesh_terms: D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000379:methods; D018246:Adrenocortical Adenoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome