Surgical technique: Retroperitoneoscopic approach for adrenal masses in children

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is considered to be the standard of care for the surgical excision of adrenal masses. The transperitoneal laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic approaches are described. Both are safe and as effective as open adrenalectomy, with the added benefit of the minimally invasive approach. It can be utilized for patients requiring surgery for a phaeochromocytoma, adrenal adenoma, adrenal adenocarcinoma, Cushing's syndrome, neuroblastoma, and an incidentaloma. Relative contraindications include previous surgery of the liver or kidney, large tumours (>8-10 cm in diameter) or coagulation disorders. Although the transperitoneal route is used more widely, the retroperitoneal approach provides direct access to the adrenal gland and easy visualization of the adrenal vein. It avoids also colonic mobilization, minimizes the risk of injury to hollow viscera, and the potential risk of adhesion formation. However, the reversed orientation of the kidney and hilum, combined with a significantly smaller working space, may make this approach difficult to master.