Retroperitoneal Laparoscopic Partial Adrenalectomy in a Patient with Conn’s Syndrome

Objective: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has the advantage of reduced blood loss, early convalescence, and shorter hospital stays. Retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach was first demonstrated by Mercan et al. in 1995 and is easier for adrenal pathologies. Adrenal-preserving surgeries may prevent adrenal insufficiency from developing over long time. There are many studies in the literature which have compared the appropriate approach and the extent of resection for the functional adrenal tumor. But it remains unclear which is the optimal option. Here we present a video of laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy by a retroperitoneal approach in a patient with primary hyperaldosteronism.

Methods: This procedure was performed by laparoscopic retroperitoneal approach for a small right adrenal lesion, which was an aldosterone-secreting benign tumor diagnosed preoperatively. Initially after creating a retroperitoneal space with the help of a balloon, the procedure was carried out with 2 working ports apart from the camera port. Intraoperatively, a well- circumscribed 2 cm adrenal lesion was identified. A partial adrenalectomy was performed.

Results: Total operating time was 1 hour 40 minutes. Estimated blood loss was 100 mL. There was no intraoperative or postoperative complication. In the postoperative period, the patient got relieved of the symptoms, and her antihypertensive drug requirements were reduced from 4 to a single drug. The patient was discharged on the third postoperative day.

Conclusion: In summary, retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy is an easy, fast, and organ- preserving approach that can be performed for unilateral hormone-secreting tumors.

Cite this article as: Rizvi SJ, Patel KR, Prasad SR, Mehra K. Retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy in a patient with conn’s syndrome. Urol Res Pract. 2023;49(4):273.