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Results of endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy
A Heintz1, S Walgenbach, T Junginger
1Clinic of General and Abdominal Surgery, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, D-55131 Mainz, Germany.
Background:
From March 1994 to August 1995 we performed extraperitoneal endoscopic adrenalectomy in 18 patients with adrenal gland tumors.
Methods:
Two of these patients underwent bilateral adrenalectomy. For the extraperitoneal approach a pneumoretroperitoneum was established and three 10-mm trocars were inserted in the area of the conventional flank incision. Adrenalectomy was performed via these ports. Endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy was successful in 15 patients; three patients required a conventional operation via an extraperitoneal lumbar approach because of inadequate exposure of the adrenal gland. In patients with endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy median operative time amounted to 180 min (95-330).
Results:
No postoperative complications were observed; median postoperative hospital stay was 5 days (3-12).
Conclusions:
The described approach produces rapid recovery and creates less postoperative pain.