Retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy in Conn's syndrome caused by adrenal adenomas or nodular hyperplasia.
BACKGROUND
In patients with primary hyperaldosteronism, solitary adrenal adenomas are an indication for surgical intervention. In contrast, adrenal hyperplasia is almost exclusively treated by drugs.


METHODS
In a prospective clinical study 183 patients (81 men, 102 women; age 49.6+/-12.8 years) with Conn's syndrome were operated on using the posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach. Tumor size ranged from 0.2 to 5.0 cm (mean 1.5+/-0.8 cm). Final histology described a solitary adenoma in 127 patients and adrenal hyperplasia in 56 patients. Partial adrenalectomies were performed in 47 operations.


RESULTS
The perioperative complication rate was 4%, mortality zero. In none of the cases was conversion to open surgery necessary. The mean operating time was 58+/-32 minutes (range 20-230 minutes) and was associated with sex (p<0.001) but not with the extent of resection (partial vs. total, p=0.51) or with tumor size (<or=1.5 vs. >1.5 cm; p=0.43) or tumor site (p=0.77). Median blood loss was 15 ml. Median duration of postoperative hospitalization was 4 days. After a mean follow-up of nearly 5 years, 96% of patients are normokalemic, 30% of patients are cured (normotensive without medication), and 87% showed an improvement of hypertension (normotensive without or with reduced medication). Cure of hypertension depended on the patient's age (p<0.001) and sex (p<0.001), duration of hypertension (p<0.05), and histomorphology (p<0.001). Improvement of hypertension was not associated with any of these factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Retroperitoneoscopic removal of adrenal glands in patients with Conn's syndrome is a safe, rapidly performed surgical procedure and can thus be considered as first choice option for treatment of both solitary adrenal adenomas and hyperplasia presenting with a clinically predominating nodule.
Walz
Martin K
MK
Klinik für Chirurgie und Zentrum für Minimal Invasive Chirurgie, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Universität Duisburg-Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Henricistrasse 92, 45136 Essen, Germany. mkwalz@kliniken-essen-mitte.de
Gwosdz
Roland
R
Levin
Stephanie L
SL
Alesina
Piero F
PF
Suttorp
Anna-Carinna
AC
Metz
Klaus A
KA
Wenger
Frank A
FA
Petersenn
Stephan
S
Mann
Klaus
K
Schmid
Kurt W
KW
D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000473:pathology*; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000379:methods*; D018246:Adrenocortical Adenoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space