Complications associated with laparoscopic adrenalectomy: Description and standardized assessment

Abstract

ObjectiveLaparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) is the procedure of choice for surgical management of the adrenal masses. Our objective is to show a standardized assessment of perioperative complications in one LA series. Materials and methods322 LA were performed consecutively between June of 1993 and September of 2012 in patients diagnosed with suprarenal tumor. In order to evaluate perioperative complications, data were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. Intraoperative complications were defined using Satava classification and Clavien–Dindo classification of postoperative complications. ResultsTwenty five LA showed perioperative complications (7.3%); 11 (3.2%) were intraoperative complications, most of them vascular diaphragmatic lesions (Satava Grade 2); and 14 (4.1%) were postoperative complications. Six patients showed complications requiring surgery (Clavien IIIa/IIIb) and/or support in Intensive Care Unit (Clavien IV). Conversion to open surgery was necessary in one case (0.3%). Despite all appropriate preoperative endocrine measures were taken, an uncontrolled hypertensive crisis and cardio-respiratory arrest recovered were developed during surgery in one patient carrier of pheochromocytoma who died from massive cerebral infarction at 5 days (Clavien V). ConclusionsStandardized criteria of surgical complications are necessary. Standardization is possible by combined application of two tools. We believe that this evaluation concept of the surgery morbidity must be used systematically in order to achieve a new standard refined, concise and comparative for reports of adverse perioperative events.