Multicentric experience of the Belgian Group for Endoscopic Surgery (BGES) with endoscopic adrenalectomy

Adrenalectomy is not a frequent operation. Therefore the newly developed laparoscopic approach is sporadically performed by surgeons dealing with endocrine disorders.

Some 54 videoendoscopic adrenalectomies performed on 52 patients by five surgical teams between October 1993 and December 1996 were prospectively evaluated.

Indications for endoscopic adrenalectomy were pheochromocytoma (n = 17), primary hyperaldosteronism (n = 15), Cushing's adenoma or disease (n = 7), nonsecreting adenoma (n = 7), single metastasis from adenocarcinoma (n = 2), adenoma with dehydroepiandrostenedione (DHEAS) hypersecretion (n = 3), and ACTH-secreting metastases from a thymoma (n = 1). Of the 54 adrenalectomies performed, 31 were of the left gland, 19 of the right and two bilateral. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was successful in 50 patients (96%). Median tumor size was 4 cm (range 1.5-12), median operation duration was 80 min (range 59-360), and median postoperative stay was 4 days (range 2-13). One patient required blood transfusion.

Endoscopic adrenalectomy can safely be performed-even sporadically-by surgeons well versed in adrenalectomy techniques for endocrine disorders and trained in endoscopic surgery.