[Adrenal gland resection with laparoscopy or lumboscopy. The Paris experience]

A survey of 7 surgeons in Paris collected 173 cases of adrenal gland resection using laparoscopes or lomboscopes in 164 patients. Video-assisted surgery techniques were used in the past 4 years for: Conn's syndrome (n = 69), fortuitously observed tumors (n = 39), Cushing's syndrome (n = 24), phyeochromocytoma (n = 18) and Cushing's disease (n = 4). There were 155 unilateral tumors and 9 bilateral tumors in patients with Cushing's disease. This survey showed that conversion rate was 14% and local complications rate 2.4%, mean operative time for unilateral operations was 144 minutes (range 50-240) and 266 minutes (range 125-480) for bilateral tumors. Although this was a retrospective uncontrolled survey, pain relief and hospitalization time were greatly improved over traditional open surgery. The difference between the transperitoneal and the retroperitoneal route could not be evaluated due to differences in the number of patients for which each technique was used. Surgeon experience varied greatly, but it appears that video-assisted adrenal gland surgery is the preferred route due to reduced risk and improved post-operative period. Tumors with a diameter greater than 6 cm and malignant or suspected malignant tumors still require open surgery.