Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy Using Needlescopic Instruments for Adrenal Tumors Less Than 5 cm in 112 Cases

Objective: To examine the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic adrenalectomy with needlescopic instruments for most adrenal tumors less than 5 cm. Methods: Transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy with needlescopic instruments for 112 patients with presumptively benign adrenal tumors < 5 cm were enrolled from July 2000 to February 2005. Operative time, blood loss, conversion and complication rates, and postoperative data were analyzed by appropriate statistical methods. Results: All 112 operations were completed without any mortality or reoperation. Mean operative time was 151 min and mean blood loss was 30 ml. Only one patient required a blood transfusion and application of a hand-assisted device. Conversion to conventional laparoscopic instruments was necessary in another five patients (4.5%). The operative time of the latter 100 cases (147 ± 5.1 min, mean ± standard error of mean) was significantly shorter than that of the initial 12 cases (183 ± 8.8 min, p = 0.001). Larger tumors, previous abdominal surgery, and pheochromocytoma group were independent risk factors of a longer operative time. Except for one leiomyosarcoma, all other tumors were benign adrenal pathologies (57 aldosterone-producing adenomas, 23 Cushing's adenomas, 12 pheochromocytomas, and 20 incidentalomas). Conclusion: The safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic adrenalectomy employing needlescopic instruments for most adrenal tumors less than 5 cm was feasible with acceptable operative time. Pheochromocytomas can also be managed with a longer operative time. Patients with previous upper midline or ipsilateral upper quadrant open surgery might not be suitable candidates for such a technique.