[Bilateral simultaneous laparoscopic adrenalectomy for the treatment of Cushing's syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
Cushing's syndrome is a rare disease. Most patients have a hypophyseal tumor and the treatment is neurosurgical. A small percentage of patients require bilateral adrenalectomy. This paper reports the cases of two patients undergoing bilateral simultaneous laparoscopic surgery with excellent results.


METHODS
Under general anesthesia, with the patient in the lumbotomy position right adrenalectomy was performed first. 15 mm Hg Pneumoperitoneum was started with the Verres needle in the ipsilateral upper quadrant; four trocars were placed, two 10 mm and two 5 mm. In both cases the adrenal vein was divided between metallic clips. Once dissection was completed the gland was placed in a plastic bag and extracted through one of the trocar incisions. For the left side the position of the patient was changed, and the same procedure was performed using three trocars, two 10 mm and one 5 mm. No drainage was employed in either patient.


RESULTS
The procedures were successfully performed without conversion. Surgical time was 150 minutes for the first patient and 210 for the second. Mean estimated blood loss was 125 ml. Mean hospital stay was 2.5 days. Both patients had a clinical reversion and they are managed with oral corticoid supplements.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that laparoscopic access to the adrenal gland is the approach of choice with very satisfactory outcomes for both patients and medical team.
Valero Fuentealba
Gonzalo
G
Unidad de Laparoscopia. Servicio de Urología, Hospital Regional de Rancagua, Hospital Clinico FUSAT Rancagua, Chile. gonzalovalero@terra.cl
D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged