From 1994 to 2000, 32 patients (16 men, 16 women; mean age 53 years) underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy at Hôpital l'Antiquaille of Lyon. All but one had systemic arterial hypertension and hypokaliemia was noted in all patients. All patients had unilateral adrenalectomy, and only one required conversion to conventional laparotomy. There were no deaths and complications were rare.