The laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) has become the preferred procedure for adrenal tumors due to many advantages; a more rapid and comfortable recovery, shortened hospitalization period, and fewer complications. This study reports on an initial 4 year period of experience with LA and describes various unusual findings encountered during the treatment.

From February 1997 to November 2000, a total of 20 LA were performed. Of the several LA techniques previously described we prefer the transabdominal approach in the lateral decubitus position utilizing 3 or 4 trocars, and this method was employed in all the cases presented here.

All 20 patients had a unilateral tumor. The pathological findings consisted of 11 aldosteronomas, 6 Cushing adenomas, 2 pheochromocytomas and 1 cortical carcinoma. Of the 20 patients, 18 were successfully operated with the laparoscopic procedure and the remaining 2 cases were converted to open adrenalectomy. The reasons for conversion were sudden cardiac arrest of unknown origin in one and intraoperative bleeding due to periadrenal massive fat in the other. During LA, 2 patients with non-catecholaminesecreting cortical adenomas pathologies displayed abnormal EKG findings, which reverted to normal after the operation. The average complete LA operation times was 186 minutes in the first 9 cases and 132 minutes in the next 9 cases. The first oral intake was started within 24 hours in all cases. There were no postoperative complications, operative morbidity or mortality. The average hospital stay was 6.2 days in the first 9 cases and 4.2 days in the next 9 cases.

LA is a relatively fast and safe method and has become is accepted as the preferred procedure for adrenal tumors but it requires good perioperative preparation. Surgeons and anesthesiologists need to be aware of the possible cardiovascular complications and of the problems inherent in the manipulation of the adrenal gland during LA.