Laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy: results for 30 consecutive cases

Most patients requiring bilateral adrenalectomy have adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing’s syndrome. Some of these patients are severely debilitated from the chronic effects of cortisol overproduction. This study aimed to analyze the indications, safety, efficacy, and outcomes for laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy from the authors’ experience.

A retrospective review was conducted at a university tertiary referral center. Between March 1996 and August 2006, 30 consecutive patients underwent simultaneous laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy. The patient records were analyzed to obtain patient demographics, disease etiology, surgical approach, operating room information, postoperative complications (30 days), hospital length of stay (LOS), and follow-up information.

The 30 participants (22 women and 8 men) had a mean age of 44 years. The indications for bilateral adrenalectomy were refractory Cushing’s disease (n = 16), occult ectopic ACTH syndrome (n = 9), and bilateral pheochromocytoma (n = 5). A mean of 53 months elapsed between onset of symptoms and adrenalectomy. Laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy was completed for all the patients with no intraoperative complications. Four patients (13%) experienced six complications. The mean postoperative LOS was 3.5 days (range, 1–12 days). Seven patients required a preoperative LOS, for a mean of 7.1 days (range, 1–20 days), and a postoperative LOS, for a mean of 5 days (range, 2–12 days). The 23 patients who did not require preoperative hospitalization had a mean postoperative LOS of 3 days (range, 1–7 days). All the patients received postoperative steroid replacement and appropriate follow-up assessment with an endocrinologist. At this writing, the patients with Cushing’s syndrome available for follow-up evaluation continue to receive steroid replacement, and all the pheochromocytoma patients have experienced a documented postoperative biochemical cure.

Laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy is safe and effective for this high-risk patient population. Although patients should be monitored closely in the postoperative period, most are discharged with glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid replacement in a short time without complications.