Impact of Body Mass Index ≥35 kg/m² on Minimally Invasive Adrenalectomy

Obesity is associated with numerous chronic conditions and an increased risk for surgical complications. Laparoscopic and robotic adrenalectomy have proven effective in the resection of adrenal tumors. This study analyzes the outcomes of severely obese patients (body-mass index [BMI] ≥35 kg/m²) following minimally invasive adrenalectomy. A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent minimally invasive adrenalectomy at our institution between 2010 and 2023 was conducted. Two matching analyses were performed. The first analysis compared patients with BMI greater versus lower than 35 kg/m². The second analysis compared outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with a BMI ≥35 kg/m². A total of 278 patients were included in the study. The median tumor size was 29 mm. Adrenal tumors had similar laterality, and most were hormonally active (66.2%). The most common pathological diagnosis was pheochromocytoma (25.5%). No statistical difference was found in peri- and postoperative outcomes between patients with BMI ≥35 and <35 kg/m² who underwent minimally invasive adrenalectomy. When the surgical approach was compared in severely obese patients, robotic adrenalectomy was associated with shorter hospital length of stay with similar operative time as the laparoscopic approach. Minimally invasive adrenalectomy is safe and feasible in patients with BMI ≥35 kg/m². Robotic and laparoscopic approaches are both safe and efficient for the resection of adrenal tumors in severely obese patients.