Predictive Factors for Conversion from Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy to Open Surgery: A 9-Year Review of 911 Cases

With the development of minimally invasive techniques, laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) has become the standard for the treatment of adrenal surgical diseases, but conversion to open adrenalectomy (OA) is also necessary in some cases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors for conversion from LA to OA. A retrospective study was performed on 911 patients who were diagnosed with adrenal tumors and underwent LA in the Department of Urology, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University from January 2013 to December 2021. According to the surgical methods, the patients were divided into the laparoscopic group (n = 873) and the conversion group (n = 38). Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of conversion, and the logistic regression equation was established to predict the probability of conversion. In this study, 38 patients (4.17%) were converted to open. In the univariate analysis, body mass index (P = .037), tumor side (P < .001), tumor size (P < .001), surgical approach (P < .001), and histological type (P = .006) were significantly associated with conversion. In the multivariate analysis, tumor diameter >7 cm (odds ratio = 2.835, 95% confidence interval 1.096-7.335; P = .032), transabdominal approach (odds ratio = 2.400, 95% confidence interval 1.136-5.074; P = .022), pheochromocytoma (odds ratio = 5.018, 95% confidence interval 1.964-12.822; P = .001), and malignant tumor (odds ratio = 17.781, 95% confidence interval 4.156-76.075; P < .001) were independent risk factors for transition opening. The logistic regression equation showed good power to predict conversion. Tumor size, surgical approach, and histological type were predictive factors for conversion from a laparoscopic to an open procedure. Preoperative evaluation of these characteristics is of great value for clinicians to evaluate the risk of conversion and make a surgical plan. It can not only reduce the conversion rate but also help to improve the intraoperative situation and shorten the length of hospital stays.