Laparoscopic adrenal-sparing surgery for primary hyperaldosteronism due to aldosterone-producing adenoma

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism due to aldosterone-producing adenoma. Most laparoscopic adrenalectomies for aldosterone-producing adenomas involve total removal of the adrenal gland, and there have been few reports of laparoscopic adrenal-sparing surgery or partial adrenalectomies.

A prospective review is performed on eight patients with primary hyperaldosteronism due to aldosterone-producing adenoma who underwent laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenal-sparing surgery in our institution over a 2-year period.

There were 1 male and 7 females with a mean age of 43.1 years. The mean diameter of the adenoma was 2 cm; there were six right-sided lesions and two left-sided lesions. The adenoma was located in the anterior margin of the adrenal gland in seven cases and was removed by laparoscopic enucleation. One patient had a partial adrenalectomy using the vascular stapler for an adenoma that was located posteriorly in the adrenal gland. Hemostasis was excellent in all cases. All patients were able to tolerate liquid orally on the day of operation and were on diet on the second postoperative day. Postoperative analgesic requirement was minimal. The mean hospital stay was 3.8 days. At a mean follow-up of 25 months, seven patients were cured of their hypertension and one patient had her antihypertensive medications significantly reduced.

Laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenal-sparing surgery is safe and effective in the treatment of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism due to aldosterone-producing adenoma.