Laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenalectomy using a remote-controlled robotic surgical system.
OBJECTIVE
Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is considered the standard method for removal of benign adrenal tumors. Although laparoscopic surgery provides clear patient benefit, laparoscopic adrenalectomy using conventional instrumentation is complex. Our objective was to evaluate whether the da Vinci trade mark Surgical System, a comprehensive robotic endoscopic surgical device, could be used effectively to perform laparoscopic adrenalectomy.


METHODS
Through a transperitoneal approach, three right and one left adrenal tumors were removed in four patients using this method.


RESULTS
There were no complications, and the clinical results were excellent.


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrate the feasibility of performing laparoscopic adrenalectomy exclusively by using robotic telepresent technology from a remote workstation. The da Vinci System enables conventionally trained urologic surgeons to perform complex minimally invasive procedures with ease and precision. Therefore, we are convinced that the system helps the urologist to adapt the whole spectrum of laparoscopic procedure in this field.
Bentas
Wassilios
W
Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany. Bentas@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Wolfram
Marc
M
Bräutigam
Ronald
R
Binder
Jochen
J
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000379:methods*; D018246:Adrenocortical Adenoma / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000601:surgery; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000379:methods*