Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy:

A General Overview
The University of Kentucky Minimally Invasive Surgery Lab
By Taylor Baldwin

Adrenalectomy: Overview
Patient History, Work-up, and Diagnosis
The Laparoscopic Method The Operating Room

Equipment
The Procedure Complications and Post Operative Care

Patient History
A 54 year old male presents with the following symptoms:
An episodic headache Excessive sweating Tachycardia Hypertension Anxiety Weight-loss Elevated blood pressure

Workup
Initial symptoms fit the classic model of pheochromocytoma
A CT scan indicates a small (3cm) mass on the left adrenal gland.

Further biochemcial testing reveals elevated metanephrines (metabolite of catecholamines) in the urine, indicating an over secretion of catecholamines in the medulla of the adrenal gland.
This evidence leads to a strong indication of pheochromocytoma in the left adrenal gland.

Possible Methods for Treatment

Surgery (either open or laparoscopically) is the clear first choice treatment of these patients.
A combination alpha/beta blocker can be used to treat patients in an attempt to slow the heart rate. This treatment is often used with surgery as a preoperative treatment to prevent intraoperative hypertension. Ultimately, the tumor needs to be removed.

Indications for the Laparoscopic Method

Functional adrenal cortical masses
Cortisol-secreting adenoma (Cushings adenoma) Aldosterone-secreting adenoma (Conns disease) Adrenal cortical hyperplasia (Cushings disease)

Functional adrenal medullary masses

Pheochromocytomas (tumor of medulla of adrenal gland)

Nonfunctional adrenal tumors

Adenoma (incedentalomas)

Contraindications for the Laparoscopic Method

Adrenal Carcinoma
Adrenal masses greater than 10 cm Untreated Coagulopathies

Surgeon Inexperience
Surgical history of kidney or liver
Increase risk of adhesions making transperitoneal approach impossible Make for much riskier dissections

Advantages of the Laparoscopic Method

Reduced wound morbidity
Shorter hospital stay Easier/quicker return to normal activity

Reduced postoperative pain

Due to absence of large surgical wounds

Magnified view of operative field

Less blood loss

Open vs Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy

Open Operation Time Reoperation Frequency 4 hours 4.8% Laparoscopic 3 hours 1.4%

Length of Stay
Morbidity Rates (30 day)

9.4 Days
17.4%

4.1 Days
3.6%

Based on a 2004 study: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1072751508000707

Patient Positioning
The patient is placed on the operating table slightly flexed at the waist in the right lateral decubitus position. A cushion can be used under the lumber fossa on the contralateral side to open the operative field and help with trocar placement.

Team Placement
The primary surgeon stands facing the abdominal side of the patient
The second surgeon will also be standing on the abdominal side of the patient

The assisting nurse stands on the opposite side of the patient, facing the surgeon
The anesthesiologist/anesthesia tech typically stands at the head of the operating table on the side of the assistant

Team Placement (Continued)

Primary Surgeon Anesthesiologist / Anesthesia tech

Assisting Nurse Assisting Surgeon

Equipment Placement
The operating room is centered around the operating table
The anesthetic equipment is typically placed at the head of the operating table

Monitors are set up on either side of the operating table for easy viewing
The instrument table is placed at the foot of the bed for easy access by the assisting nurse Electrocautery and laparoscopic unit are placed where there is room

Equipment Placement (continued)

Electrocautery and laparoscopic unit typically placed in these locations Anesthetic equipment and monitor for viewing vital signs

Monitor used by surgeons to operate Monitor used by assistants to view surgery

Instrument table placed at foot of bed

Instruments Used
Laparoscope
Typically a 30 degree laparoscope is used for this procedure

Cutting Devices
Laparoscopic scissors Harmonic Scalpel Hook Cautery

Dissectors
5mm or 10mm grasper Maryland Dissecting grasper

Other Instruments
Suction-irrigation Device Extraction Bag Clip Applier

Port Placement
The left adrenalectomy is an operation that requires three 10mm trocars and an optional fourth 5mm trocar
1. The 1st 10mm trocar is placed 2cm below and parallel to the costal margin 2. The 2nd 10mm trocar is placed under the 11th rib at the mid axillary line 3. The 3rd 10mm trocar is placed along the mid-clavicular line, lateral to the rectus muscle 4. The optional 5mm trocar is placed dorsally at the costovertebral angle

Port Placement (continued)

10mm trocar parallel to costal margin 5mm trocar at the costovertebral angle

10mm trocar along midclavicular line

10mm trocar on the midaxillary line

Procedure: Overview
Mobilize the colon

Divide the lienophrenic ligament

Divide the splenorenal ligament Locate, clip, and cut the adrenal vein Dissect the Lower aspect of the gland Locate, clip, and cut the Inferior Adrenal Artery Locate, clip, and cut the Middle Adrenal Artery Locate, clip, and cut the Superior Adrenal Artery

Dissect the superior, posterior, and lateral aspects of the gland

Remove the Gland through an extraction bag

Procedure
Mobilization of the colon
This is done by cutting the lienocolic ligament This will open the operating field and help to protect the colon from injury

Mobilization of the Spleen

This is achieved by dividing the lienophrenic ligament This allows the surgeon to move the spleen and start to access the adrenal vein

Procedure
Division of the Splenorenal ligament
This is the ligament that is holding the spleen and kidney in close proximity By removing this ligament, the surgeon is able to enter the proper field to find the adrenal vein

Locate, clip, and cut the Adrenal Vein

Once located, the surgeon should trace it back to the renal vein Depending on the size of the vein, typically 3 clips are used proximally and 2 are used distally

Procedure
Dissect the lower aspect of the gland
Once the adrenal vein is removed, the lower aspect of the gland can be dissected It is important to carefully watch for the inferior adrenal artery

Locate, clip, and cut the inferior adrenal artery

Once this artery is cut, it is possible to detach the inferior portion of the gland from the kidney

Procedure
Locate, clip, and cut the middle adrenal artery
Once this artery is cut it is possible to dissect the more medial aspects of the gland Use the appropriate number of clips depending on the size of the artery

Locate, clip, and cut the superior adrenal artery

Once this artery is cut it is possible to dissect the more superior aspects of the gland Again, use as many clips as necessary

Procedure
Dissect the superior, posterior, and lateral aspects of the gland
Now that the gland has been detached of its veins and arteries, it is possible to dissect it completely

Remove the gland with an extraction bag

It is important to watch out for and not harm other organs during this process

Possible Complications
Hemorrhage
Cause and Prevention
Correct any preoperative coagulopathies Clip proximal portions of veins at least twice

Recognition and Management

Intraoperative hemorrhage identified by excessive bleeding and may require conversion to an open operation if hemostasis is not achieved Postoperative hemorrhage is identified by monitoring vital signs and urine output overnight

Possible Complications (Cont.)

Damage to intraabdominal or retroperitoneal structures
Cause and Prevention
Knowledge of anatomy is key! Trace veins to point of origin to be sure Always know the location of spleen, liver, and pancreas

Recognition and Management

Damage to liver or spleen usually results in intraoperative or postoperative bleeding Damage to pancreas can result in pancreatitis Often these complications are self managed, but sometimes may require medical or surgical management

Post Operative Care

Pain medication given as required (typically only necessary for a few days)
Patient is allowed and able to ambulate (move about) on the same day

Liquid food intake is started the night of the procedure

Solid food intake may begin on the first postoperative day

The patient can leave the hospital on the second or third postoperative day