Abstract

Retroperitoneoscopy has become an attractive method in urologic surgery by providing easy access to the retroperitoncal space and direct approach to the urologic organs. In this report we aim to represent our exerience with retroperitoncoscopic adrcnalectomy.

Between January 1994 and July 1998, six patients (4 women and 2 men) underwent retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy. All procedures were performed using 3 ports with the patients placed in lateral decubitus position. Retroperitoneoscopy was performed after creation of a sufficient retroperitoneal space by hydraulic balloon dissection techniguc.

The lesion were on the right side in 4 cases and on the left side in 2 cases. The mean operative time was 191 minutes, mcan tumor size was 4.9 cm. and the mean hospital stay was 3.8 days. Postoperative hematoma in one pali- ent andpleural injury in an other were encountered as complications. Pathological diagnosis of the resected tissues revcalcd non-sccretory adenoma in 3 cases, adrenal hyperplasia in 1, pheocromocytoma in land adrenal cortical carcinoma in |.

Endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy is an effective, safe and minimal invasive treatment alternative in the management ofpatients with adrenal mass.