title: Laparoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy.
abstract: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has largely replaced open adrenalectomy for resection of adrenal tumors, which are not adrenocortical cancer or malignant pheochromocytoma. Laparoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy is a particularly useful technique in patients with tumors <7 cm and body mass index <45 kg/m2. When compared with laparoscopic transabdominal adrenalectomy, the laparoscopic retroperitoneal technique leads to reduced operating times, avoidance of intra-abdominal adhesions and irradiated fields, potentially less postoperative pain, and improved intraoperative hemostasis and visualization. The technique involves placement of 3 ports, dissecting the retroperitoneal space, identifying and ligating the adrenal vein, and removing the attachments to the adrenal gland. See the video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/SLE/A38.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: R Joseph
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shonkwiler
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome