Laparoscopic adrenalectomy

Abstract

Since January, 1992, 8 patients with adrenal disease have been treated by laparoscopic surgery. There were 4 males and 4 females (35–65 years old), seven patients had primary aldosteronism and one non-functioning adrenal tumor. Six trocar-sheath units were placed in the upper abdomen. In case of the lesion being on the right side, the posterior layer of the peritoneum was incised at the point of the hepatic flexure of the colon and on the left side, the dissection was begun by dividing the peritoneal reflection over the lateral aspect of the descending colon, adrenal tumors were removed with normal adrenal gland. In all cases adrenal tumors were removed successfully. The operative time was from 165 to 572 (293min., average) minutes and there was no major complication. © 1993, THE JAPANESE UROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION. All rights reserved.