[Initial experience with laparoscopic adrenalectomy]. / Prvé skúsenosti s laparoskopickou adrenalektómiou.

We present the first experience with laparoscopic adrenalectomy, which was in Slovakia introduced to the surgical practice on March 3, 1996. We analyse first seven patients who underwent completed laparoscopic adrenalectomy (five leftsided, two right-sided). Four patients had cortex adenoma (clinically 2 incidentalomas and 2 Cishing syndroma), three patients had cortex hyperplasia (clinically Conn syndroma). Average duration of operation was 120 minutes, there were no postoperative complications. Average postoperative hospital stay was 5 days. Our initial experiences are comparable with that of surgical departments which has more than two-years experiences. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a perfect method for the small adrenal tumors and it is better than traditional transabdominal approach.

[Successful treatment of agranulocytosis caused by carbimazole using recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor]. / Uspesná liecba agranulocytózy vyvolanej karbimazolom pomocou rekombinantného granulocyty-makrofágy kolónie stimulujúceho faktora.

The authors describe a patient with hyperthyroidism who developed after three weeks' treatment with carbimazole agranulocytosis and the condition was complicated by septic shock. The authors used for treatment in addition to antibiotics and corticoids, for the first time in their practice, human recombinant granulocyte macrophage colonies stimulating factor (rHuGM-CSF) which produced a very favourable effect. In the meantime the patient was prepared for goitrectomy, operated and discharged in a satisfactory condition to have ambulatory treatment.

[Primary hyperaldosteronism, problems in diagnosis and therapy in clinical practice]. / Primárny hyperaldosteronizmus, problémy jeho diagnózy a liecby v klinickej praxi.

The paper summarizes data from the recent literature on pathogenetic variants of primary hyperaldosteronism, screening, diagnosis and therapy of this secondary form of arterial hypertension. On examples from their own practice the authors draw attention to the that the diagnosis and treatment of this disease is not always as straightforward as might appear from the literature. The solution is simple, effective screening in every hypertensive patient by examination of the kalaemia before treatment of arterial hypertension is started. In case of hypokalaemia the subsequent procedure should be the concern of specialized departments.