[Laparoscopic adrenalectomy: Akita University experience]

We performed 52 laparoscopic adrenalectomies between January 1997 and March 2003. In 51 patients, adrenal tumors were successfully removed laparoscopically. In one patient, the laparoscopic procedure was converted to open surgery because of insufflator's trouble and hemorrhage. Perioperative blood transfusion was required in two patients; one for intraoperative and another for postoperative bleeding. We compared laparoscopic adrenalectomy with conventional open surgery which had been performed in our clinic before the laparoscopic adrenalectomy era. The mean operative time of the laparoscopic adrenalectomy (187 +/- 59 min) was not significantly longer than that of the open surgery (193 +/- 49 min). The mean estimated blood loss of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (75 +/- 145 g) was significantly less than that of the open surgery (438 +/- 447 g). Time to oral intake and ambulation for laparoscopic adrenalectomy were significantly earlier than those of the open surgery. Operation time was significantly shortened as the experience of this surgery was accumulated. The results of our experience support the concept that laparoscopic adrenalectomy is safe and is a standard treatment for surgical treatment of adrenal tumors.