Laparoscopic transabdominal lateral adrenalectomy

Should surgical drainage after lateral transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy be routine?-A retrospective comparative study

Background

Whether to use surgical drains after abdominal surgery or not has received much attention since a hundred years ago. Nowadays, lateral transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LTLA) is a widely used technique to treat adrenal tumors worldwide. However, the placement of drains after LTLA remains controversial.

Methods

Data of 150 patients, who underwent LTLA between October 2014 and September 2020 by the same lead surgeon, were collected, including demographic, pathology, preoperative, operative variables and postoperative complications. The patients were divided into two groups, with and without drainage. The postoperative recovery of the two groups was compared.

Results

Among 150 patients (65 men and 85 women, median age 48 years, median BMI 23.53), 89 patients had no drainage and 61 patients had drainage after surgery. Variables of the two groups were analyzed. Placement of drains correlated with long operative time (P<0.01). Patients with drain had longer hospital stays (P<0.001) and a higher incidence of postoperative complications (P=0.022). Other factors, including tumor size (P=0.61), tumor location (P=0.387), ASA score (P=0.687), pathology (P=0.55), VAS pain score (P=0.41), intraoperative blood loss (P=0.11), were not found to be significantly associated with drain placement. There was no conversion to open surgery in both groups. Moreover, no mortality was observed in either group.

Conclusions

This study revealed that it is feasible and safe not to leave a drain in selective and uncomplicated patients and that surgical drainage should not be routine after LTLA.

Comparison between retroperitoneal and transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy: Are both equally safe?

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Compare the rates of major intra- and postoperative complications, surgical conversion and mortality between transperitoneal versus retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a series of 344 consecutive unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomies, performed from January 1997 to December 2017, we evaluated the rates of major intra- and postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo≥III) and surgical conversion of the two approaches.

RESULTS

The retroperitoneal laparoscopic route was used in 259 patients (67.3%) and the transperitoneal laparoscopic route in 85 patients (22.1%). A total of 12 (3.5%) major postoperative complications occurred, with no statistically significant difference between the two approaches (P=0.7). In univariate analysis, the only predictor of major postoperative complication was Cushing's syndrome (P=0.03). The surgical conversion rate was higher in the transperitoneal route group (10/85 (11.8%) compared to 6/259 (2.3%), P=0.0003) in the retroperitoneal route group. One death occurred in each group. Independent predictors of surgical conversion in multivariate analysis included the transperitoneal laparoscopic approach (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3-1.9, P=0.02), advanced age (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.6, P=0.04) and large tumor size (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.7, P=0.01).

CONCLUSION

Both transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches for laparoscopic adrenalectomy are safe, with an equivalent rate of major complications and mortality. The surgical conversion rate was higher for the transperitoneal route. The retroperitoneal approach should be reserved for small adrenal lesions.

Obesity does not affect peri- and postoperative outcomes of transabdominal laparoscopic adrenalectomy

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the gold standard procedure for most adrenal tumors. Obesity is considered as a risk factor for surgical complications. This study aimed to evaluate whether obesity affects peri- and postoperative outcomes of transabdominal laparoscopic adrenalectomy using body mass index (BMI). This retrospective study included 98 patients who underwent transabdominal laparoscopic adrenalectomy between January 2011 and December 2016. We divided the patients into 2 groups: non-obese group (BMI < 25 kg/m2) and obese group (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). We assessed perioperative outcomes and postoperative complications between the groups. A total of 98 patients were analyzed (70 without obesity and 28 with obesity). There were no significant differences between the non-obese and obese groups regarding operative time (111 vs 107 min; p = 0.795), blood loss (3.5 vs 3.5 ml; p = 0.740), rate of placement of additional trocars (14.3% vs 17.9%; p = 0.657), rate of open conversion (2.6% vs 3.6%; p = 0.853), and postoperative length of hospital stay (6 vs 5 days; p = 0.237). Furthermore, obesity was not a significant risk factor for postoperative complications (postoperative bleeding, wound infection, and pneumonia). There are no significant differences in peri- and postoperative outcomes of transabdominal laparoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with obesity compared with those without obesity. Transabdominal laparoscopic adrenalectomy is feasible and safe for patients with obesity.

International Consultation on Urological Diseases and European Association of Urology International Consultation on Minimally Invasive Surgery in Urology: laparoscopic and robotic adrenalectomy

The aim of this study was to provide an evidence-based systematic review of the use of laparoscopic and robotic adrenalectomy in the treatment of adrenal disease as part of the International Consultation on Urological Diseases and European Association of Urology consultation on Minimally Invasive Surgery in Urology. A systematic literature search (January 2004 to January 2014) was conducted to identify comparative studies assessing the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive adrenal surgery. Subtopics including the role of minimally invasive surgery for pheochromocytoma, adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) and large adrenal tumours were examined. Additionally, the role of transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches, as well as laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) and robotic adrenalectomy were reviewed. The major findings are presented in an evidence-based fashion. Large retrospective and prospective data were analysed and a set of recommendations provided by the committee was produced. Laparoscopic surgery should be considered the first-line therapy for benign adrenal masses requiring surgical resection and for patients with pheochromocytoma. While a laparoscopic approach may be feasible for selected cases of ACC without adjacent organ involvement, an open surgical approach remains the 'gold standard'. Large adrenal tumours without preoperative or intra-operative suspicion of ACC may be safely resected via a laparoscopic approach. Both transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches to laparoscopic adrenalectomy are safe. The approach should be chosen based on surgeon training and experience. LESS and robotic adrenalectomy should be considered as alternatives to laparoscopic adrenalectomy but require further study.

Laparoscopic surgery: A qualified systematic review

AIM: To review current applications of the laparoscopic surgery while highlighting the standard procedures across different fields.

METHODS: A comprehensive search was undertaken using the PubMed Advanced Search Builder. A total of 321 articles were found in this search. The following criteria had to be met for the publication to be selected: Review article, randomized controlled trials, or meta-analyses discussing the subject of laparoscopic surgery. In addition, publications were hand-searched in the Cochrane database and the high-impact journals. A total of 82 of the findings were included according to matching the inclusion criteria. Overall, 403 full-text articles were reviewed. Of these, 218 were excluded due to not matching the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS: A total of 185 relevant articles were identified matching the search criteria for an overview of the current literature on the laparoscopic surgery. Articles covered the period from the first laparoscopic application through its tremendous advancement over the last several years. Overall, the biggest advantage of the procedure has been minimizing trauma to the abdominal wall compared with open surgery. In the case of cholecystectomy, fundoplication, and adrenalectomy, the procedure has become the gold standard without being proven as a superior technique over the open surgery in randomized controlled trials. Faster recovery, reduced hospital stay, and a quicker return to normal activities are the most evident advantages of the laparoscopic surgery. Positive outcomes, efficiency, a lower rate of wound infections, and reduction in the perioperative morbidity of minimally invasive procedures have been shown in most indications.

CONCLUSION: Improvements in surgical training and developments in instruments, imaging, and surgical techniques have greatly increased safety and feasibility of the laparoscopic surgical procedures.

Gallbladder carcinoma metastasizing to adrenal gland: a rare site demonstrated with (18)F-FDG PET/CT

Adrenal metastases have commonly been reported in a wide variety of cancers but not in gallbladder cancer. We here present a case of a 45-year-old male patient with gallbladder carcinoma where left adrenal metastasis was detected on staging F-FDG PET/CT. This was confirmed histopathologically. F-FDG PET/CT can have a significant impact on management of patients with gallbladder carcinoma by demonstrating rare sites of metastasis.