ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term and long-term results of laparoscopic adrenalectomies carried out in our center. A total of 67 laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed during the 10 years between 1995 and 2005 at Shahid Labbafinejad Medical Center. A transperitoneal lateral approach was used in 65 [97.0%] of the patients, and retroperitoneal approach was used in 2 [3.0%]. The clinical characteristics and the outcomes were reviewed in a retrospective study. Indications for laparoscopic adrenalectomy in our patients were as follows: pheochromocytoma in 28 patients [41.8%], aldosterone-producing adenoma in 15 [22.4%], pseudocyst in 6 [9.0%], Cushing syndrome [macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia] in 5 [7.5%], nonfunctioning adenoma [incidentaloma] in 5 [7.5%], myelolipoma in 2 [3.0%], almost normal adrenal tissue in 2 [3.0%], adrenal cyst in 2 [3.0%], adenocarcinoma in 1 [1.4%], and schwannoma in 1 [1.4%]. The mean operative time for unilateral cases was 149.0 A +/- 36.1 minutes. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 126 A +/- 36 mL. Conversion rate to open surgery was 7.5%. Reoperation due to hemorrhage was performed in 1 patient. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe procedure in some adrenal tumors and a reasonable option for selected large adrenal tumors when complete resection is technically feasible and there is no evidence of local invasion