What is adrenolectomy?

Adrenalectomy refers to the removal of a cancerous adrenal gland. The adrenal gland can be removed from one side or both sides, depending on how the cancer has developed. 

How is adrenalectomy performed?

Adrenalectomy can be done using the traditional “open” surgery or laparoscopically.

Traditional adrenalectomy requires large incisions on the front of the abdomen or in the lower back, which is associated with a lot of pain, post operative side-effects and long recovery time.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a technique performed by a surgeon through a series of small (~1 cm) incisions (three or five) with the help of special surgical instruments and micro optics. The devices and camera are inserted into the incisions, along with the camera. The micro camera projects a magnified real time image on a TV monitor, allowing the surgeon to see the tumor and surrounding tissues.

What are the advantages of a laparoscopic verses “open” adrenalectomy?

Patients who are well-suited for the laparoscopic procedure have a better outcome and recover much faster verses those receiving “open” operations.  In most cases, patients having laparoscopic adrensurgery experience less pain, suffering, and recover quicker in comparison to the same open treatment. Laparoscopic incisions heal faster with the reduced risk of post operative infections and other problems. Additionally, there is less post operative scaring, a cosmetic advantage for men and women. Laparoscopic patients typically return home on the first or second day after the operation.

Am I a good candidate to Laraposcopic adrenalectomy?

Laraposcopic adrenalectomy is a major advancement for treating adrenal tumors. For most benign small tumors and some cancerous conditions, laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the preferred procedure.