Laparoscopic adrenalectomy in pheochromocytomas

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate 17 patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy for the treatment of pheochromocytoma by transperitoneal anterior approach. Seventeen patients underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma between January 1994 and May 2002. Ten females (58.8%) and 7 males (41.2%) were operated on; 14 patients (82.3%) had sporadic pheochromocytoma and 3 (17.7%) were familiar cases. Mean age was 42 yr (range 25-72 yr). All patients were treated pre-operatively with alpha-blockers. Seven patients (41.2%) underwent right adrenalectomy; 9 (52.9%) underwent left adrenalectomy and 1 (5.9%) bilateral adrenalectomy. No conversion to open surgery occurred and no mortality was observed. The right-side adrenalectomy required a mean operative time of 86 min (range 45-120), the left-side procedure a mean operative time of 116 min (range 80-140) and the bilateral one 219 min. In two patients (11.8%), a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and ovariectomy, respectively, were performed without changing the position of the patient on the operating table. Only 1 patient (5.9%) presented significant intraoperative hypertension, and arrhythmia resolved by medical therapy. No other intraoperative and post-operative complications were reported. Mean hospital stay was 3 days (range 2-8 days). At mean follow-up of 48 months (range 6-96 months), regression of symptoms and control of blood pressure were obtained without additional treatment in all patients. No recurrences were reported. In our experience, adrenal pheochromocytoma can be treated safely and effectively by laparoscopic transperitoneal anterior approach.