Adrenal fast-track and enhanced recovery in retroperitoneoscopic surgery for primary aldosteronism improving patient outcome and efficiency.

PURPOSE: No data exist on perioperative strategies for enhancing recovery after posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (PRA). Our objective was to determine whether a multimodality adrenal fast-track and enhanced recovery (AFTER) protocol for PRA can reduce recovery time, improve patient satisfaction and maintain safety. METHODS: Thirty primary aldosteronism patients were included. Fifteen patients were treated with 'standard-of-care' PRA and compared with 15 in the AFTER protocol. The AFTER protocol contains: a preoperative information video, postoperative oral analgesics, early postoperative mobilisation and enteral feeding, and blood pressure monitoring at home. The primary outcome was recovery time. Secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay, postoperative pain and analgesics requirements, patient satisfaction, perioperative complications and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: Recovery time was much shorter in both groups than anticipated and was not significantly different (median 28 days). Postoperative length of hospital stay was significantly reduced in AFTER patients (mean 32 vs 42 h, CI 95%, p = 0.004). No significant differences were seen in pain, but less analgesics were used in the AFTER group. Satisfaction improved amongst AFTER patients for time of admission and postoperative visit to the outpatient clinic. There were no significant differences in complication rates or QoL. CONCLUSION: Despite no difference in recovery time between the two groups, probably due to small sample size, the AFTER protocol led to shorter hospital stays and less analgesic use after surgery, whilst maintaining and even enhancing patient satisfaction for several aspects of perioperative care. Complication rates and QoL are comparable to standard-of-care.

Time to Flip the Approach: Retroperitoneoscopic Adrenalectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (RPA) has gained increasing popularity with its excellent perioperative outcomes and direct surgical access compared to other adrenalectomy approaches. We review perioperative outcomes of RPA by a specialized endocrine surgeon before and after expert intensive trainings (EITs), and to that of other laparoscopic adrenalectomy approaches at our center over a 9-year period, aiming to ascertain if RPA is worth the steep learning curve. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred twenty one adrenalectomies were performed between January 2014 to June 2022. Patient demographic, tumor characteristics, and perioperative outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. The primary endpoints included procedure duration, complications, and length of stay. Part I of the study examined the effect of EITs on RPA's learning curve, and part II compared these outcomes with that of the alternative approach, transabdominal lateral adrenalectomy (TLA). RESULTS: Both procedure duration and days in hospital markedly decreased after the two EITs for RPA. RPA resulted in a shorter procedure duration and hospital stay compared to TLA, and had lesser and milder intraoperative and postoperative complications compared to TLA. CONCLUSIONS: RPA results in safe and excellent outcomes, and offers additional benefit of direct surgical access, feasibility in patients with previous abdominal surgery, high body mass index, and multiple comorbidities. The steep learning curve can be overcome and shortened by EITs, motivating centers with specialized endocrine surgery to integrate RPA training into its curriculum, given its foreseeable rewarding outcomes.

Perioperative Outcomes After Adrenalectomy for Secondary Adrenal Malignancy.

INTRODUCTION: The risk of adverse outcomes after adrenal metastasectomy is not well defined. Knowledge of these risks is essential to guide patient counseling. METHODS: The 2015-2020 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program datasets were combined. Patients who underwent adrenalectomy for secondary adrenal malignancy (SM) and benign nonfunctional (BNF) adrenal neoplasms were identified; BNF neoplasms were chosen as a comparison as functional neoplasms can contribute to comorbidity. Patients who had additional surgery at the time of adrenalectomy were excluded. Patient demographics, comorbidities, perioperative factors, and outcomes were compared between groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Of 3496 adrenalectomy patients, 332 had SM and 3164 had BNF neoplasms. Patients with SM were older (65 versus 54 y) and more often had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (7.5% versus 4.4%), chronic steroid use (10.5% versus 3.8%), and bleeding disorders (4.5% versus 2.2%) than patients with BNF, respectively (P < 0.01 for all). Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was the most common operative approach for both groups (74.7% versus 88.3%). Rates of mortality, morbidity, reoperation, readmission, and nonhome discharge did not differ significantly between groups. Patients with SM had higher rates of postoperative bleeding than patients with BNF (6.3% versus 2.6%, P < 0.001). This persisted on multivariable regression analysis that adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, and operative approach (odds ratio 2.34, 95% confidence interval 1.19-4.64). CONCLUSIONS: Adrenalectomy for SM is associated with an increased risk of postoperative bleeding compared to adrenalectomy for BNF adrenal neoplasms. Patients with SM that meet criteria for adrenal metastasectomy should be counseled appropriately.

Adrenalectomy Outcome Variations Across Different Functional Adrenal Tumors.

INTRODUCTION: Adrenalectomy generally has favorable outcomes. It is unknown if patients with functional adrenal tumors experience different clinical outcomes than those with benign adrenal tumors, due to the presence of comorbid conditions secondary to the functional tumor. We investigated outcomes following open and laparoscopic adrenalectomy for benign nonfunctional (BNF) versus functional adrenal masses. METHODS: Patients undergoing adrenalectomy were identified in the 2015-2020 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, then categorized as BNF, hyperaldosteronism, hypercortisolism, and pheochromocytoma. The primary outcome of interest was 30-d morbidity and secondary outcomes included 30-d mortality, 30-d readmission, and postoperative length of stay (LOS). Subgroup analysis was performed based upon surgical approach. Univariate analysis was performed, followed by multivariable logistic regression for individual outcomes that differed significantly between patients with BNF and functional neoplasm, factoring in patient demographics and operative approach with statistical significance on univariate analysis. Descriptive statistics and outcomes were analyzed using Pearson's χ2 test and Mann-Whitney U-test as appropriate. RESULTS: There were 3291 patients with BNF while 484 had hyperaldosteronism, 263 hypercortisolism, and 46 pheochromocytomas. Within the laparoscopic group of 3615 (88.5%) of adrenalectomy patients, compared to BNF patients, patients with hyperaldosteronism had lower rates of postoperative morbidity (1.9% versus 5.2%, P < 0.001) and shorter LOS (1 d, interquartile range (IQR) [1-1] versus 1d IQR [1-2], P = 0.003); these persisted on multivariate analysis (OR 0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.14-0.74 and odds ratio 0.47, 95% CI 0.36-0.60, P < 0.001). Patients with hypercortisolism had higher morbidity (7.3% versus 5.2%, P < 0.001), 30-d readmission rates (5.3% versus 2.9%, P = 0.042) and longer LOS (2d, IQR [1-3] versus 1d, IQR [1-2, P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, presence of hypercortisolism was independently associated with increased likelihood of readmission within 30 d (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.11-2.99, P = 0.012) and longer LOS (>1 d) (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.33-2.40, P < 0.001). Compared to BNF patients, patients with pheochromocytoma had higher rates of postoperative morbidity (6.2% versus 5.2%, P < 0.001). Within the open group of 469 (11.5% of adrenalectomy patients), there were no statistically significant differences in outcomes between patients with BNF and functional adrenal masses. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes after adrenalectomy performed for functional neoplasms differ based on surgical indication.

Current Management Strategies and Outcomes in Children With Adrenocortical Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but aggressive pediatric endocrine tumor. However, there is no recent US national report on the management or outcomes of pediatric ACC. We aimed to examine the clinical characteristics, current management strategies, and outcomes of pediatric ACC. METHODS: In this retrospective National Cancer Database study between 2004 and 2019, children (<18 y) with ACC were included. Overall survival was examined by means of Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank tests, and Cox regression modeling. RESULTS: Seventy-eight children with ACC were included. The median age was 10 y, the median tumor size was 10.2 cm, and 35.9% had metastasis at diagnosis. Most patients underwent surgical treatment (84.6%), 56.4% received chemotherapy, and 7.7% received radiation. The 1-, 3-, and 5-y overall survival rates were 87.0%, 62.0%, and 60.1%, respectively. In unadjusted analysis, surgical treatment was associated with improved overall survival (log-rank test, P < 0.001). In multivariable Cox regression, metastasis at diagnosis was associated with inferior overall survival (hazard ratio: 2.72, 95% confidence interval: 1.15-6.40, P = 0.02), when adjusting for age, tumor size, receipt of surgical treatment, and chemotherapy. In patients with nonmetastatic ACC, increasing age was associated with inferior overall survival (hazard ratio: 1.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.24, P = 0.04), when adjusting for tumor size, receipt of surgical treatment, and chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Most children with ACC in the USA undergo surgical treatment with about half of these also receiving chemotherapy. Metastasis at diagnosis was independently associated with inferior overall survival; in patients with nonmetastatic ACC, increasing age was independently associated with inferior overall survival.

Laparoscopic versus robotic lateral transabdominal adrenalectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite an increased adaptation of robotic adrenalectomy, its advantages over laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) have not been defined. The aim of the study was to compare perioperative outcomes of robotic versus laparoscopic lateral transabdominal adrenalectomy using a large single-center experience. METHODS: This was a retrospective single center study. Within 22 years, patients who underwent laparoscopic and robotic transabdominal lateral adrenalectomy were identified from a prospective institutional review board-approved database. Clinical and perioperative outcomes were compared using Mann-Whitney U and χ2  tests. RESULTS: There were 190 patients who underwent laparoscopic and 281 patients who underwent robotic transabdominal lateral adrenalectomy. The groups were comparable except for a higher percentage of female patients in the robotic group. For robotic versus LA, operative time and hospital stay were shorter, in addition to less blood loss, conversion to open and margin positivity, for pheochromocytoma and malignant tumors. Morbidity rates were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations of a retrospective design, this large study demonstrates significant advantages of robotic versus laparoscopic transabdominal lateral adrenalectomy in terms of perioperative outcomes and margin clearance.

Transabdominal and retroperitoneal adrenalectomy: comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is recognized as the "gold standard" approach for benign adrenal tumors. The majority of surgeons opt for laparoscopic transabdominal adrenalectomies (LTA), while retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies (RPA) in the prone position have certain advantages for patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of the transabdominal and retroperitoneoscopic laparoscopic adrenalectomies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2000 and 2021, our clinic performed 472 laparoscopic adrenalectomies. The age ranged from 19 to 79 years, with a mean age of 50.5 ± 10.2 years. The patient pool consisted of 315 women and 157 men. Tumor sizes ranged from 1 to 10 cm. RESULTS: In a study of 316 patients undergoing LTA versus 156 with RPA, the TLA averaged 82.5 min (70-98), while the RPA took 56.4 min (46-62) (P < 0.001). Intraoperative blood loss was 110 cc for the LTA group and 80 cc for the RPA group (P < 0.05) Conversion rates stood at 2.5% for transabdominal and 4.5% for retroperitoneoscopic procedures (P = 0.254). At 24 h post-operation, pain scores were 3.6 and 1.6, respectively (P < 0.001). Time to resume solid oral intake was 15.2 h for TLA and 8 h for RPA, with hospital stays at 4.5 days and 3 days respectively (P < 0.001). Short-term complications occurred in 8.9% of transabdominal and 12.2% of retroperitoneoscopic patients (P = 0.257). CONCLUSIONS: For small tumors, RPA offers advantages over the transabdominal method in surgery time, blood loss, post-op pain, and recovery. These benefits are enhanced for patients with prior abdominal surgeries. However, large tumors present challenges in the retroperitoneal approach due to limited space and anatomical orientation. If complications emerge, surgeons can seamlessly switch to the LTA.

Side-specific factors for intraoperative hemodynamic instability in laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma (PHEO) is challenging because of the high risk of intraoperative hemodynamic instability (HDI). This study aimed to compare the incidence and risk factors of intraoperative HDI between laparoscopic left adrenalectomy (LLA) and laparoscopic right adrenalectomy (LRA). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed two hundred and seventy-one patients aged > 18 years with unilateral benign PHEO of any size who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy at our hospitals between September 2016 and September 2023. Patients were divided into LRA (N = 122) and LLA (N = 149) groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to predict intraoperative HDI. In multivariate analysis for the prediction of HDI, right-sided PHEO, PHEO size, preoperative comorbidities, and preoperative systolic blood pressure were included. RESULTS: Intraoperative HDI was significantly higher in the LRA group than in the LLA (27% vs. 9.4%, p < 0.001). In the multivariate regression analysis, right-sided tumours showed a higher risk of intraoperative HDI (odds ratio [OR] 5.625, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.147-27.577, p = 0.033). The tumor size (OR 11.019, 95% CI 3.996-30.38, p < 0.001), presence of preoperative comorbidities [diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary heart disease] (OR 7.918, 95% CI 1.323-47.412, p = 0.023), and preoperative systolic blood pressure (OR 1.265, 95% CI 1.07-1.495, p = 0.006) were associated with a higher risk of HDI in both LRA and LLA, with no superiority of one side over the other. CONCLUSION: LRA was associated with a significantly higher intraoperative HDI than LLA. Right-sided PHEO was a risk factor for intraoperative HDI.

Comparative outcomes and prognostic indicators in adrenalectomy for adrenal metastasis.

PURPOSE: The indications for adrenalectomy and feasibility of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenal metastasis are controversial. This study aimed to compare the surgical outcomes between open adrenalectomy (OA) and laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) and to evaluate the prognostic factors for oncological outcomes of adrenal metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 141 consecutive patients who underwent adrenalectomy for adrenal metastasis at Seoul National University Hospital from April 2005 to February 2021. Surgical and oncological outcomes were compared between OA and LA. RESULTS: OA was performed in 95 (67.4%) patients, and 46 (32.6%) patients underwent LA. Among the patients who underwent adrenalectomy without adjacent organ resection for adrenal tumors less than 8 cm, LA was associated with a shorter operation time (100.1 ± 48.8 vs. 158.6 ± 81.2, P = 0.001), less blood loss (94.8 ± 93.8 vs. 566.8 ± 1156.0, P = 0.034), and a shorter hospital stay (3.7 ± 1.3 vs. 6.9 ± 5.8, P = 0.003). For locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), on multivariate analysis, a positive pathological margin (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.777, P = 0.002), disease activity at the primary site (HR: 6.497, P = 0.005), other metastases (HR: 4.154, P = 0.015), and a relatively larger tumor size (HR: 1.198, P = 0.018) were significantly associated with poor LRRFS. Multivariate analysis indicated that metachronous metastasis (HR: 0.51, P = 0.032) was associated with a longer overall survival (OS), whereas a positive pathological margin (HR: 2.40, P = 0.017), metastases to other organs (HR: 2.08, P = 0.025), and a relatively larger tumor size (HR: 1.11, P = 0.046) were associated with a shorter OS. CONCLUSIONS: LA is a feasible treatment option for adrenal metastasis in selected patients. The pathological margin, metastases to other organs, and tumor size should be considered in adrenalectomy for adrenal metastasis.

A prospective case series to evaluate subcostal nerve injury with high-resolution ultrasound in posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy.

BACKGROUND: Posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy has several advantages over transabdominal laparoscopic adrenalectomy regarding operating time, blood loss, postoperative pain, and recovery. However, postoperatively several patients report chronic pain or hypoesthesia. We hypothesized that these symptoms may be the result of damage to the subcostal nerve, because it passes the surgical area. METHODS: A prospective single-center case series was performed in adult patients without preoperative pain or numbness of the abdominal wall who underwent unilateral posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy. Patients received pre- and postoperative questionnaires and a high-resolution ultrasound scan of the subcostal nerve and abdominal wall muscles was performed before and directly after surgery. Clinical evaluation at 6 weeks was performed with repeat questionnaires, physical examination, and high-resolution ultrasound. Long-term recovery was evaluated with questionnaires, and photographs from the patients were examined for abdominal wall asymmetry. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients were included in the study. There were no surgical complications. Preoperative visualization of the subcostal nerve was possible in all patients. At 6 weeks, ultrasound showed nerve damage in 15 patients, with no significant association between nerve damage and postsurgical pain. However, there was a significant association between nerve damage and hypoesthesia (p = 0.01), sensory (p < 0.001), and motor (p < 0.001) dysfunction on physical examination. After a median follow-up of 18 months, 5 patients still experienced either numbness or muscle weakness, and one patient experienced chronic postsurgical pain. CONCLUSION: In this exporatory case series the incidence of postoperative damage to the subcostal nerve, both clinically and radiologically, was 60% after posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy. There was no association with pain, and the spontaneous recovery rate was high.

Long-term outcome of retroperitoneoscopic partial versus total adrenalectomy in patients with Cushing's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: We analyze the long-term outcome of surgery for Cushing's syndrome (CS) and the influence of the extent of surgical resection on the duration of postoperative cortisone substitution. METHODS: One-hundred forty-one patients (129 female, 12 males; mean age: 45.7 ± 12.8 years) operated between January 2000 to June 2020 were included in the analysis. Patients suffered from manifest (124) or subclinical (17) CS due to benign unilateral adrenal neoplasia. All tumors were removed by the posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach. 105 patients had total (TA) and 36 partial (PA) adrenalectomies. All patients were discharged with ongoing corticosteroid supplementation therapy. RESULTS: Follow-up data could be obtained for 83 patients. Twenty-four (1 male, 23 females; mean age 42.3 years) underwent PA and 59 TA (6 males, 53 females; mean age 44.6 years). Mean follow-up time was 107 ± 68 months (range: 6-243 months). The median duration of postoperative corticosteroid therapy was 9.5 months after PA and 11 months after TA (p = 0.1). Significantly, more patients after total adrenalectomy required corticosteroid therapy for more than 24 months (25% vs. 4%; p = 0.03). Recurrent ipsilateral disease occurred in one case after partial adrenalectomy and was treated by completion adrenalectomy. A case of contralateral recurrence associated with subclinical Cushing's syndrome was observed after total adrenalectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of local recurrence after partial adrenalectomy in CS is low. Cortical-sparing surgery may shorten corticosteroid supplementation therapy after surgery.

Surgical Management of Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

Introduction: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a notoriously aggressive cancer with a dismal prognosis, especially for patients with metastatic disease. Metastatic ACC is classically a contraindication to operative management. Here, we evaluate the impact of primary tumor resection and metastasectomy on survival in metastatic ACC. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with metastatic ACC (2010-2019) utilizing the National Cancer Database. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Cox proportional hazards models were developed to evaluate the associations between surgical management and survival. Propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized to account for selection bias in receipt of surgery. Results: Of 976 subjects with metastatic ACC, 38% underwent surgical management. Median OS across all patients was 7.6 months. On multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression, primary tumor resection alone (HR: 0.523; p<0.001) and primary resection with metastasectomy (HR: 0.372; p<0.001) were significantly associated with improved OS. Metastasectomy alone had no association with OS (HR: 0.909; p=0.740). Primary resection with metastasectomy was associated with improved OS over resection of the primary tumor alone (HR: 0.636; p=0.018). After PSM, resection of the primary tumor alone remained associated with improved OS (HR 0.593; p<0.001), and metastasectomy alone had no survival benefit (HR 0.709; p=0.196) compared with non-operative management; combined resection was associated with improved OS over primary tumor resection alone (HR 0.575, p=0.008). Conclusion: In metastatic ACC, patients may benefit from primary tumor resection alone or in combination with metastasectomy, however further research is required to facilitate appropriate patient selection.

Adrenal cysts less than 10 cm can be safely observed.

BACKGROUND: Adrenal cysts are rare and appropriate management is unclear due to a lack of data on their natural history. Understanding adrenal cyst growth patterns would assist in clinical management. METHODS: This single-institution study included all adult patients diagnosed with simple adrenal cysts between 2004 and 2021. Baseline characteristics and outcomes of those who underwent resection (ADX) or observation (OBS) were compared using the chi-squared test, student's t-test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Growth curves and sensitivity analysis were plotted for all patients who had follow-up imaging. RESULTS: We identified 77 patients with imaging-confirmed adrenal cysts. The majority were female (75.3%) and more than half were white (55.8%). One-third of patients underwent ADX, and the remaining were observed. ADX patients were younger (median age [IQR]: 55.5 y [45.0-68.2 y] vs. 44.2 y [38.7-55.0 y], p = 0.01) and more likely to be Hispanic (12% vs. 0%, p = 0.05). ADX patients presented with larger cysts (5.6 vs. 2.6 cm, p = 0.002). The median time from diagnosis to last follow-up was 1.1 y for ADX and 4.1 y for OBS. Average growth for OBS was 0.3 cm/y, while average growth for ADX was 3.9 cm/y. In ADX patients, cysts >10 cm grew significantly faster than cysts <10 cm (median growth rate 13.2 cm/y vs. 0.3 cm/y, p < 0.05). There was no adrenal malignancy diagnosis, hyperfunctionality, or observation-related complications (e.g., rupture). CONCLUSION: While size >4-6 cm has guided surgical referral for solid adrenal masses, this study demonstrates a size threshold of 10 cm, below which asymptomatic, simple adrenal cysts can safely be observed.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone test predicts the outcome of unilateral adrenalectomy in primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia.

PURPOSE: Primary bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (PBMAH) is associated with hypercortisolism and a heterogeneous clinical expression in terms of cortisol secretion and related comorbidities. Historically, treatment of choice was bilateral adrenalectomy (B-Adx); however, recent data suggest that unilateral adrenalectomy (U-Adx) may be an effective alternative. For the latter, factors predicting the postsurgical outcome (e.g., biochemical control) have not been identified yet. METHODS: PBMAH patients undergoing U-Adx for overt Cushing's syndrome (CS) in two tertiary care centers were retrospectively analysed. Remission was defined as a normalization of urinary free cortisol (UFC) without the need for medical treatment. The potential of hCRH test as a predictor of U-Adx outcome was evaluated in a subgroup. RESULTS: 23 patients were evaluated (69% females, mean age 55 years). Remission rate after U-Adx was 74% at last follow up (median 115 months from UAdx). Before U-Adx, a positive ACTH response to hCRH (Δ%ACTH increase > 50% from baseline) was associated with higher remission rates. CONCLUSIONS: Three of four patients with PBMAH are surgically cured with U-Adx. Pre-operative hCRH testing can be useful to predict long-term remission rates.

A novel method of tunneling retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: To introduce the surgical technique and our team's extensive experience with tunnel method in laparoscopic adrenalectomy. METHODS: From July 2019 to June 2022, we independently designed and conducted 83 cases of " Tunnel Method Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy," a prospective study. There were 45 male and 38 female patients, ages ranged from 25 to 73 years(mean: 44.6 years).The cases included 59 adrenal cortical adenomas, 9 pheochromocytomas, 6 cysts, 4 myelolipomas, 1 ganglioneuroma, and 4 cases of adrenal cortical hyperplasia. In terms of anatomical location, there were 39 cases on the left side, 42 on the right side, and 2 bilateral cases. Tumor diameters ranged from 0.6 to 5.9 cm(mean: 2.9 cm). Utilizing ultrasound monitoring, percutaneous puncture was made either directly to the target organ or its vicinity, and the puncture path was manually marked. Then, under the direct view of a single-port single-channel laparoscope, the path to the target organ in the retroperitoneum or its vicinity was further delineated and separated. This approach allowed for the insertion of the laparoscope and surgical instruments through the affected adrenal gland, thereby separating the surface of the target organ to create sufficient operational space for the adrenalectomy. RESULTS: All 83 surgeries were successfully completed. A breakdown of the surgical approach reveals that 51 surgeries were done using one puncture hole, 25 with two puncture holes, and 7 with three puncture holes. The operation time ranged from 31 to 105 min (mean: 47 min), with a blood loss of 10 to 220mL (mean: 40 mL). Notably, there were no conversions to open surgery and no intraoperative complications. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 6 to 28 months, during which after re-examination using ultrasound, CT, and other imaging methods, there were no recurrences or other complications detected. CONCLUSIONS: The completion of the tunnel method laparoscopic adrenalectomy represents a breakthrough, transitioning from the traditional step-by-step separation of retroperitoneal tissues to reach the target organ in conventional retroperitoneoscopic surgery. This method directly accesses the target organ, substantially reducing the damage and complications associated with tissue separation in retroperitoneoscopic surgery, As a result, it provides a new option for minimally invasive surgery of retroperitoneal organs and introduces innovative concepts to retroperitoneoscopic surgery.

Risk factors for postoperative fever after laparoscopic adrenalectomy focusing on hormones produced: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is widely performed for a number of hormone-producing tumors and postoperative management depends on the hormones produced. In the present study, we conducted a retrospective analysis to clarify the risk factors for postoperative complications, particularly postoperative fever after laparoscopic adrenalectomy. METHODS: We analyzed 406 patients who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy at our hospital between 2003 and 2019. Postoperative fever was defined as a fever of 38 °C or higher within 72 h after surgery. We investigated the risk factors for postoperative fever after laparoscopic adrenalectomy. RESULTS: There were 188 males (46%) and 218 females (54%) with a median age of 52 years. Among these patients, tumor pathologies included 188 primary aldosteronism (46%), 75 Cushing syndrome (18%), and 80 pheochromocytoma (20%). Postoperative fever developed in 124 of all patients (31%), 30% of those with primary aldosteronism, 53% of those with pheochromocytoma, and 8% of those with Cushing syndrome. A multivariate logistic regression analysis identified pheochromocytoma and non-Cushing syndrome as independent predictors of postoperative fever. Postoperative fever was observed in 42 out of 80 cases of pheochromocytoma (53%), which was significantly higher than in cases of non-pheochromocytoma (82/326, 25%, p < 0.01). In contrast, postoperative fever developed in 6 out of 75 cases of Cushing syndrome (8%), which was significantly lower than in cases of non-Cushing syndrome (118/331, 35.6%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Since postoperative fever after laparoscopic adrenalectomy is markedly affected by the hormone produced by pheochromocytoma and Cushing syndrome, it is important to carefully consider the need for treatment.

The effect of mass functionality on laparoscopic adrenalectomy outcomes.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effect of adrenal mass functionality and different hormone subtypes synthesized by the adrenal masses on laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 298 patients, 154 of whom were diagnosed with nonfunctional masses. In the functional group, 33, 62, and 59 patients had Conn syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, and pheochromocytoma, respectively. The variables were analyzed between the functional and nonfunctional groups and then compared among functional masses through subgroup analysis. RESULTS: The incidence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity, blood loss, and length of hospital stay (LOH) were significantly higher in the functional group than in the nonfunctional group. In the subgroup analysis, patients with pheochromocytoma had significantly lower body mass index but significantly higher mass size, blood loss, and LOH than the other two groups. A positive correlation was found between mass size and blood loss in patients with pheochromocytoma (p ≤ 0.001, r = 0.761). However, no significant difference in complications was found among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, patients with functional adrenal masses had higher comorbidity rates and American Society of Anesthesiologists scores. Moreover, blood loss and LOH were longer on patients with functional adrenal masses who underwent LA. Mass size, blood loss, and LOH in patients with pheochromocytoma were significantly longer than those in patients with other functional adrenal masses. Thus, mass functionality did not increase the complications.

Adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma: Surgical outcomes and preoperative risk factors for hemodynamic instability.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection for pheochromocytoma (PCC) is still challenging. This study assessed the perioperative outcomes of adrenalectomy for PCC and investigated the risk factors for intraoperative hemodynamic instability (HI). METHODS: This retrospective study included 571 patients with adrenal tumors who underwent adrenalectomy at Kobe University Hospital and other related hospitals between April 2008 and October 2023. The perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy were compared between PCC (n = 92) and non-PCC (n = 464) groups. In addition, we investigated several potential risk factors for intraoperative HI in patients with PCC (n = 107; open, n = 11; laparoscopic, n = 92; robot-assisted, n = 4). RESULTS: While patients with PCC had a significantly larger amount of blood loss in comparison to those with non-PCC (mean, 70 and 30 mL, respectively; p = 0.004), no significant difference was observed in the rate of perioperative grade ≥III complications (1.1% vs. 0.6%; p = 0.516), and no perioperative mortality was observed in either group. A tumor size of ≥40 mm, with preoperative hypertension and urinary metanephrines at a level ≥3 times the upper limit of the normal value, were found to be significant predictors of HI, with odds ratios of 2.74 (p = 0.025), 3.91 (p = 0.005), and 3.83 (p = 0.004), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that laparoscopic adrenalectomy for PCC may be as safe as that for other types of adrenal tumors and that large tumors and hormonally active disease may be risk factors for intraoperative HI. The optimal perioperative management for PCC with these risk factors should be established.

Perirenal fat thickness is a powerful predictor for surgical outcomes of transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has been the gold standard surgical procedure. However, the adaptation criteria for malignant tumors and predictors of perioperative outcomes are not well defined. Therefore, this study tried to identify valid predictors for perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy and consider the adaptation criteria. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the preoperative and perioperative data of 216 patients who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy in our hospital. Preoperative factors associated with perioperative outcomes were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Among 216 patients, 165 (76.4%), 26 (12.0%), and 25 (11.6%) were suspected of having benign tumors, pheochromocytoma, and malignant tumors, respectively. Median tumor size was 25.0 mm (interquartile range 18.0-35.0); median perirenal fat thickness was 9.2 mm (interquartile range 4.9-15.6) on preoperative computed tomography scans. The median operative time was 145.5 min (interquartile range 117.5-184.0) and the median estimated blood loss was 0.0 mL (interquartile range 0.0-27.3). Perirenal fat thickness (p < 0.001), tumor size (p < 0.001), and malignant tumors (p = 0.020) were associated with operative time, and perirenal fat thickness (p = 0.038) and malignant tumors (p = 0.002) were associated with estimated blood loss. CONCLUSIONS: Perirenal fat thickness, tumor size, and malignant tumors are valid predictors of the surgical outcomes of transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy. As only perirenal fat thickness is associated with both surgical outcomes except for malignant tumors, it is a powerful predictor. Transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large malignant adrenal tumors with thick perirenal fat should be performed with caution.

Treatment of primary aldosteronism: Clinical practice guidelines of the Taiwan Society of Aldosteronism.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension and one of the few medical diseases that can be cured by surgery. Excessive aldosterone secretion is highly associated with cardiovascular complications. Many studies have shown that patients with unilateral PA treated with surgery have better survival, cardiovascular, clinical, and biochemical outcomes than those who receive medical treatment. Consequently, laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the gold standard for treating unilateral PA. Surgical methods should be individualized according to the patient's tumor size, body shape, surgical history, wound considerations, and surgeon's experience. Surgery can be performed through a transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach, and via a single-port or multi-port laparoscopic approach. However, total or partial adrenalectomy remains controversial in treating unilateral PA. Partial excision will not completely eradicate the disease and is prone to recurrence. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists should be considered for patients with bilateral PA or patients who cannot undergo surgery. There are also emerging alternative interventions, including radiofrequency ablation and transarterial adrenal ablation, for which data on long-term outcomes are currently lacking. The Task Force of Taiwan Society of Aldosteronism developed these clinical practice guidelines with the aim of providing medical professionals with more updated information on the treatment of PA and improving the quality of care.