Posterior Retroperitoneoscopic Adrenalectomy: Lessons Learned within Five Years

. Posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy is one of the new endoscopic methods in endocrine surgery. In a prospective clinical study 142 posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies (72 right, 70 left) were performed in 130 patients (52 males, 78 females, age 49.1 ± 14.9 years). Indications were primary adrenal tumors (unilateral, n= 118; bilateral, n= 2), adrenal metastases (n= 2), and bilateral ACTH‐dependent hyperplasias (n= 10). Tumor size ranged from 0.5 to 7.0 cm (mean 2.7 ± 1.4 cm). Partial adrenalectomies were performed in 39 patients. Conversion to open posterior adrenalectomy was necessary in five patients and seven procedures (5%). Intraoperative and postoperative complications were minor and occurred in 5% and 13%, respectively. Mortality was zero. Operating time was 101 ± 39 minutes (range 35–285 minutes) and depended on tumor type (pheochromocytoma versus others; p < 0.01), tumor size (< 3 vs. ≥ 3 cm; p < 0.05), gender (p < 0.05), and extent of resection (partial versus complete, p < 0.05. Twenty‐three adrenalectomies (17%) were performed within 1 hour or less. Blood loss was 54 ± 72 ml. Consumption of analgesics was low (mean 6 mg piritramide postoperatively). Median duration of hospitalization was 3 days. Posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe method that has become a standard procedure in endocrine surgery.