[Treatment of pheochromocytomas with retroperitoneal laparoscopy]

Although laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become one of the techniques of choice for the treatment of adrenal tumours, this technique has not been widely used to treat phaeochromocytoma due to the risks of hypertension before control of the adrenal vein. The authors report their experience of retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy for phaeochromocytoma.

From January 1995 to December 1999, 10 (5 right, 5 left) retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed for symptomatic phaeochromocytoma, in 4 men and 6 women, aged 40 to 67 years (mean: 51 years). In every case, the phaeochromocytoma had been diagnosed by elevated urinary catecholamines, abdominopelvic CT scan and positive MIBG scintigraphy.

There were no conversions to open surgery. The mean operating time was 116 minutes (range: 100 to 140 minutes). Mean blood loss was 180 ml (range: 0 to 550 ml) and none of the patients were transfused. In one case, an injury to the adrenal vein was repaired intraoperatively. The mean length of hospital stay was 3.4 days (range: 1 to 12 days). The mean diameter of the lesion was 38 mm (range: 15 to 110 mm). Postoperative complications occurred in two cases (one haematoma and one incisional hernia repaired one year later). With a mean follow-up of 21.6 months (range: 6 to 46 months), all patients had normal urinary catecholamine levels and 9 had a normal blood pressure with no antihypertensive therapy.

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy can be performed for small phaeochromocytomas (less than 5 cm). Retroperitoneal laparoscopy is a direct approach which allows the surgeon to control the adrenal vein first in order to avoid hypertensive crises.