[Laparoscopic adrenalectomy].

Introduction: In the last few years, laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become widely used in the management of adrenal disease.

Material And Method: We reviewed our experience of 24 patients who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy between 1998 and 2006.

Results: Surgery was indicated for Cushing's syndrome in 46% of the patients, aldosteronoma in 25%, incidentaloma in 21% and pheochromocytoma in 8%. A lateral transabdominal approach was employed in all patients. The mean age of the patients was 50.4 years (17 women and 7 men). Left unilateral adrenalectomy was performed in 63% of the patients, right unilateral adrenalectomy in 29% and bilateral adrenalectomy in 8%. The conversion rate was 4%. The mean operating time was 134 minutes in unilateral approaches and 245 minutes in bilateral approaches. The mean size of the gland was 4 cm. The complications rate was 4% and there was no mortality. Disease control was achieved in 96% of the patients after a mean follow-up of 49 months.

Conclusions: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy should be considered the procedure of choice for the surgical management of benign adrenal disease.