title: [Endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy: a surgical improvement].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy in patients with adrenal tumours less than 6 cm in diameter.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Department of General Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of per- and postoperative data on 19 patients subjected to endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy; 3 patients had bilateral surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty adrenal tumours in 17 patients were successfully removed endoscopically. Conversion to lumbotomy was necessary in the two other cases. Median operative time was 85 min (range: 50-120). Median blood loss was 50 ml (10-400). Median postoperative hospital stay was 4 days (2-14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy is associated with minimal morbidity and therefore valuable in patients with adrenal tumours smaller than 6 cm in diameter.
authors.affiliation: Afd. Algemene Heelkunde, Academisch Ziekenhuis Rotterdam-Dijkzigt.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bonjer
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Bruining
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kazemier
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pols
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: de Herder
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome