Objective: Evaluation of endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy in patients with adrenal tumours less than 6 cm in diameter.
Design: Retrospective analysis.
Setting: University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Department of General Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Method: Analysis of per- and postoperative data on 19 patients subjected to endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy; 3 patients had bilateral surgery.
Results: Twenty adrenal tumours in 17 patients were successfully removed endoscopically. Conversion to lumbotomy was necessary in the two other cases. Median operative time was 85 min (range: 50-120). Median blood loss was 50 ml (10-400). Median postoperative hospital stay was 4 days (2-14).
Conclusion: Endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy is associated with minimal morbidity and therefore valuable in patients with adrenal tumours smaller than 6 cm in diameter.