Adrenalectomy

Adrenal glands are two triangle-shaped glands located above the kidneys, which secrete hormones that control your metabolism, blood pressure, chemical levels in blood and usage of glucose. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a minimally invasive procedure used to remove an adrenal gland affected with a tumor.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is performed under general anaesthesia. Your surgeon makes 3 to 4 small incisions (1/4 to ½ inches) in your abdomen. A laparoscope (small tube with camera attached at one end) is inserted into one of the incisions to help your surgeon view your internal organs and perform the surgery. Surgical instruments are inserted into the other incisions to separate the adrenal gland from its connections and dissect it away from the kidney. The gland is placed in a bag and removed through one of the incisions. All the incisions are then closed. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy requires a very short hospital stay and causes less pain compared to the traditional open procedure. Like all surgeries, laparoscopic adrenalectomy may be associated with a few complications such as bleeding, injury to the surrounding organs, high blood pressure, blood clots and infection.

Conditions and Management