Laparoscopic bilateral simultaneous adrenalectomy: results of 11 operations.
BACKGROUND
This study was undertaken to evaluate the outcomes of the simultaneous bilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study, including 11 patients with bilateral adrenal lesions, affected by Cushing's syndrome (n=2), Cushing's disease (n=6), pheochromocytoma (n=2), and 1 adrenocorticotrophin-hormone-dependent hypercortisolism of unknown origin.


RESULTS
Elevan bilateral adrenalectomies were carried out by the laparoscopic approach with no conversions. The operations were performed in 7 cases by the lateral transperitoneal adrenalectomy (LTLA), in 3 by the posterior approach (PRA), and in 1 by the combined approach. The mean size of the masses was 5 cm. (range, 4-13). The average operating time was 245 minutes for LTLA and 218 minutes for PRA (P<0.05). The estimated mean blood loss was 87+/-36 mL (range, 20-150). No patients required transfusions. The mean hospital stay was 5+/-1.8 days (range, 4-7). The mean follow-up was 34 months (range, 2-96).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study confirms that the bilateral adrenalectomy by the minimally invasive technique is safe and effective, affording acceptable blood loss and morbidity with a short hospital stay.
Pugliese
Raffaele
R
Department of Surgery, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Boniardi
Marco
M
de Carli
Stefano
S
Sansonna
Fabio
F
Costanzi
Andrea
A
Maggioni
Dario
D
Ferrari
Giovanni C
GC
Di Lernia
Stefano
S
Loli
Paola
P
Grossrubatscher
Erika
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000379:methods*; D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000503:physiopathology; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome