Background: Minimally invasive adrenalectomy has been adopted as the treatment of choice for benign adrenal tumors. This study aimed to investigate the outcome of laparoscopic adrenalectomies performed over a 10-year period at a teaching hospital.
Methods: All laparoscopic adrenalectomies carried out between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2010 were evaluated with respect to perioperative management, complications, conversion rate, learning curve, tumor size, and surgically relevant characteristics of different adrenal pathologies.
Results: Over a period of 10 years, 215 laparoscopic lateral transabdominal adrenalectomies were carried out for Conn's syndrome (n = 90), Cushing's syndrome (n = 72), pheochromocytoma (n = 30), metastatic disease (n = 8), incidentalomas (n = 10), and other rare adrenal pathologies (n = 5). Morbidity, mortality, and conversion rate were 7.0, 0.9, and 4.2 %, respectively. Patients with Cushing's disease and bilateral adrenalectomy showed a higher complication rate. In retrospect, the indication for a laparoscopic approach was at least questionable in five cases. During these 10 years, four surgeons unfamiliar with the technique received intensive training to a defined plan.
Conclusions: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy represents a safe operating technique associated with few complications and a low conversion rate. Patients with severe Cushing's disease are prone to complications and require intensive monitoring postoperatively. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is associated with a learning curve, and particular emphasis should be given to surgical training.