The value of inferior phrenic vein in retroperitoneal laparoscopic left single-site adrenalectomy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical feasibility and value of the application of the inferior phrenic vein as the marker in retroperitoneal laparoscopic single-site adrenalectomy for the treatment of left adrenal disease. Methods The clinical data of 48 patients (male: n=21, female: n=27, average age=43 years) who underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic left adrenalectomy from July 2015 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The operation was performed through the relative non vascular approach between the superior and the posterior of renal adipose capsule and the posterior layer of the Gerota fascia. The left inferior phrenic vein was used as the anatomical landmark to search for and ligate the central vein. Results Forty eight operations were performed successfully. The average operation time was 28 min. The mean blood loss was 20 ml. The recovery time of bowel function and ambulation time were 20 hours and 16 hours respectively. The average postoperative hospital stay was 5 days. Forty five of 48 patients had symptomatic diapperance or improvement except for 2 cases with adenoma and 1 patient with cortical hyperplasia. Conclusions Using inferior phrenic vein as a marker in retroperitoneal laparoscopic left single-site adrenalectomy that could locate and control the central vein quickly, redue blood loss and blood pressure fluctuations. Key words: Inferior phrenic vein; Single-site; Adrenalectomy; Anatomy