title: [Laparoscopic adrenalectomy: our preliminary experience].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 1992, Gagner described the first laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Since then this technique has been more and more widely employed and several studies confirmed its advantages, comparing to the traditional approach, in terms of reduction of mean hospital stay and therefore of the health expense.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Authors' preliminary experience spreads from March to November 2003 when 4 patients were studied and thus underwent a transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy: 2 of them were affected by Cushing syndrome, 1 by pheochromocytoma in MEN and 1 by an incidentaloma. The transabdominal access in lateral decubitus with 4 trocars was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No complication was reported with a minimal need of analgesic drugs. The mean hospital stay was 4 days and all patients were discharged 48 hours after surgery. The mean diameter of nodules was 40 +/- 30 mm. The definitive histological examination showed 2 cortical adenomas, 1 diffuse cortical hyperplasia and 1 pheochromocytoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary report confirms the optimal results of other experienced authors. Further interventions will be necessary for improvements and technical requirements.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chirurgia Generale d'Urgenza e dei Trapianti d'Organo, Cattedra di Semeiotica e Metodologia Chirurgica, Università degli Studi di Palermo.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Napoli
authors.forename: Gi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carini
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Lo Monte
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calderone
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brischetto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buscemi
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014741:Video Recording
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone