Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy in Urology

ABSTRACT

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has been the standard method for resecting adrenal gland tumors. Recently, laparoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy (RA) has been more popular than conventional transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (TLA) as an alternative method. Studies comparing laparoscopic RA and TLA showed that laparoscopic RA was superior or at least comparable to TLA in operation time, blood loss, pain score, hospital stay, and return to normal activity. Conversion rates and complication rates were similar. At present, laparoscopic RA has been int the limelight procedure for patients with benign adrenal disease. However, surgeons have been reluctant to offer this operation to patients because of the concerns over inadequate working space and overall perceived higher rate of complications, laparoscopic RA is not popular in urologic field up to now. This article summarizes the latest ideas and issues on laparoscopic RA in the expanding field of laparoscopy in urology.