Laparoscopic adrenalectomy via the retroperitoneal approach: first five cases

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Benign adrenal tumors require effective and safe surgical removal.
• Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a preferred minimally invasive approach.
• The retroperitoneal approach offers a distinct surgical pathway.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy.
• To assess the feasibility of this technique for benign adrenal tumors.

Main Methods:

• Five patients with benign adrenal tumors underwent laparoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy.
• A retroperitoneal working space was created using digital dissection and a balloon.
• Adrenal gland dissection and removal were performed under laparoscopic visualization.

Main Results:

• All five adrenalectomies were completed without complications.
• The mean operative time was 3.4 hours.
• Mean estimated blood loss was 148 mL, with an average hospital stay of 10 days and full recovery in 19 days.

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy is a safe and advantageous procedure.
• This approach is effective for the laparoscopic removal of adrenal glands with benign tumors.