title: Robot-assisted adrenalectomy: a technical option for the surgeon?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The robotic approach is an interesting option for overcoming the limitations of laparoscopic adrenalectomy. We aimed to report our technique and outcomes of robot-assisted adrenalectomy (RAA).
  
  
  METHODS
  From November 2000 to February 2010, all consecutive patients who underwent a RAA by the same surgeon were prospectively entered into a dedicated database. The data were reviewed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 21 right (50%), 20 left (47.6%) and 1 bilateral (2.4%) RAA were performed. Mean lesion size was 5.5 cm (max. 10 cm). Mean operative time was 118 ± 46 min and median blood loss was 27 ml. There were no conversions. The postoperative morbidity rate was 2.4%; mortality rate, 2.4%; median hospital stay, 4 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RAA achieves good short-term outcomes and could be considered a valid option for the treatment of adrenal masses, with the potential to expand the limits of minimally invasive surgery.
authors.affiliation: Division of General, Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, 840 S. Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. piercg@uic.edu
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Giulianotti
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Buchs
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Addeo
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ayloo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caravaglios
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coratti
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000401:mortality*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012371:Robotics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000401:mortality*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome