title: Laparoscopic adrenal surgery in children: Lessons from a single centre experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although commonly performed in adults, laparoscopic adrenalectomy in children is performed only in centres with advanced laparoscopic expertise.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective analysis of laparoscopic adrenalectomies performed at a single centre between January 2003 and May 2010. After preoperative evaluation with biochemical assays and radiologic imaging, surgery was performed by using the lateral transabdominal approach in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten laparoscopic adrenalectomies (including three bilateral) were performed in seven children, with a mean age of 9.6 years. The tumours ranged from 2 - 7 cms in size. The operative durations were 75 - 130 minutes (unilateral) and 250 - 270 minutes (bilateral). Operative blood loss was minimal. There were no open conversions, but terminal hand assistance was required in one large right pheochromocytoma. The postoperative hospital stay ranged from 3 - 10 days. The final pathological diagnoses included pheochromocytoma, hyperplasia and neuroblastoma. Follow-up at 24 - 87 months was uneventful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With adequate experience in laparoscopy, it is possible to perform adrenalectomy in selected children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi, India.
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sukumar
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jadhav
authors.forename: Balagopal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Sanjay H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: Ginil P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Georgie
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mathew