title: Laparoscopic bilateral simultaneous adrenalectomy: results of 11 operations.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Surgery, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors: Raffaele
authors: R
authors: Pugliese
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Boniardi
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: de Carli
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Sansonna
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Costanzi
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Maggioni
authors: Giovanni C
authors: GC
authors: Ferrari
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Di Lernia
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Loli
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: Grossrubatscher
mesh_terms: 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