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The aim of this case–control study is to compare the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) for lesions measuring ≥6 cm versus ≤5.9 cm in diameter. Eighty-one patients with adrenal gland lesions ≥6 cm in diameter (intervention group) were identified. Patients were matched to 81 patients with adrenal gland ≤5.9 cm in diameter (control group) based on disease (Conn–Cushing syndrome, pheochromocytoma, primary or secondary adrenal cancer or other disease), lesion side (right, left), surgical technique (anterior transperitoneal approach for right and left LA or anterior transperitoneal submesocolic for left LA) and body mass index class (18–24.9, 25–29.9, 30–34.9, 35–39.9, ≥40 kg/m2). Surgical outcomes were compared between the intervention and control groups. Mean operative time was statistically significantly longer in the interventional arm (101.4 ± 52.4 vs. and 85 ± 31.6 min, p = 0.0174). Eight conversions were observed in the intervention group (9.8%) compared to four in the control group (4.9%) (p = 0.3690). Five (6.1%) and three (3.7%) postoperative complications were observed in the intervention and control groups, respectively (p = 0.7196). Mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.6 ± 2.4 and 4.1 ± 2.3 days in the intervention and control groups, respectively (p = 0.1957). Operative time was statistically significantly longer in adrenal gland lesions ≥6 cm in diameter (vs. ≤5.9 cm). Conversion and complication rates were also higher, but the difference was not statistically significant. Based on the present data, adrenal gland lesions ≥6 cm in diameter are not an absolute contraindication to the laparoscopic approach.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) is the treatment of choice for management of adrenal tumors. Several approaches are proposed, including the transperitoneal one with patient in lateral or supine position, and the retroperitoneal one, with patient in lateral or prone position. The best approach, however, has yet to be defined. In patients with gallstones and common bile duct (CBD) stones, available options are one-stage [including laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with CBD exploration (LC-LCBDE) and LC with endoscopic rendez-vous (LC-ERV)], or two-stage management [LC and pre or postoperative Endoscopic-Retrograde-Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES)]. Both are safe and effective, with lower hospital stay after one-stage option. The decision for one or the other depends on local resources and patient conditions. We report the case of a hypertensive 53-years-old man with Cushing's disease from pituitary ACTH-secreting adenoma, after three failed trans-sphenoidal pituitary gland surgical resection procedures, and recurrent biliary symptoms from gallstones and CBD stones. The patient underwent laparoscopic transperitoneal bilateral adrenalectomy in supine position (anterior approach on the right, submesocolic approach on the left) together with LC, intraoperative cholangiography, choledochotomy, CBD exploration, T-tube drainage. In this challenging case, laparoscopic transperitoneal bilateral adrenalectomy with patient in supine position together with one-stage laparoscopic management of gallstones and CBD stones, offered the patient the opportunity to solve both adrenal and biliary problems in the same session, reducing hospital stay and costs. In experienced hands, the transperitoneal combination of different surgical approaches during the same anesthesia with patient in supine position may provide safe and effective patient management. KEY WORDS: Bilateral adrenalectomy, Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA), Choledochotomy, Common bile duct (CBD) stones, Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE), Submesocolic approach, Transperitoneal anterior approach.La surrenalectomia mini-invasiva è il trattamento di scelta nei tumori surrenalici. Sono stati proposti diversi approcci, transperitoneale laterale o anteriore oppure retroperitoneale laterale o posteriore. Quale di questi sia migliore non è ancora stabilito. Nel trattamento elettivo della litiasi colecisto-coledocica, se da un lato alcune evidenze favoriscono la colecistectomia laparoscopica (CL) con esplorazione laparoscopica della via biliare principale (VBP) in tempo unico, il trattamento endo-laparoscopico in due tempi, CL e colangiopancreatografia retrograda endoscopica (CPRE) con sfinterotomia endoscopica (SE) pre o post-operatoria, è la strategia maggiormente impiegata. Recentemente, è stato proposto il rendez-vous laparo-endoscopico in tempo unico. Riportiamo il caso di un uomo di 53 anni (indice di massa corporea 23 kg/m2), con ipertensione arteriosa e litiasi colecisto-coledocica, inviatoci per malattia di Cushing da adenoma ipofisario ACTH-secernente, dopo tre procedure fallite di resezione ipofisaria transfenoidale. Sottoposto a bonifica endoscopica preoperatoria con CPRE/SE, il paziente è stato sottoposto a surrenalectomia bilaterale laparoscopica (anteriore per il surrene destro, submesocolica a sinistra) e CL, con colangiografia intraoperatoria che mostrava calcolosi residua del coledoco, trattata mediante coledocotomia laparoscopica e tubo di Kehr. L’approccio transperitoneale anteriore con paziente in decubito supino ha consentito di risolvere entrambe le patologie surrenaliche e biliari nello stesso tempo operatorio. Anche se la strategia chirurgica dipende dalle preferenze del chirurgo e dalle risorse locali, causa la mancanza di una chiara superiorità di un approccio rispetto a un altro, la via transperitoneale in decubito supino ha permesso di combinare diverse procedure, con benefici per il paziente che altre procedure non consentono.

The aim of the present study is to report and to compare the results of three different laparoscopic transperitoneal surgical approaches [lateral transperitoneal (LT), anterior transperitoneal (AT) and anterior transperitoneal submesocolic (ATS)] for the treatment of Conn’s and Cushing’s syndrome from left adrenal disease. This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. From 1994 to 2017, 535 laparoscopic adrenalectomies (LA) were performed. One hundred and sixty-four patients with Conn’s or Cushing’s syndrome underwent left LA. Patients were divided in three groups based on the approach: LT (Group A), AT (Group B) and ATS (Group C). The diagnosis was Conn’s and Cushing’s syndrome in 99 and 65 patients, respectively. LT was used in 13 cases, AT in 55 and ATS in 96. No significant differences in patient’s gender, age and BMI were observed. Mean operative time was 117.6 ± 33.7, 107.6 ± 40.3 and 96.2 ± 47.5 min for Groups A, B and C, respectively. Conversion to open surgery was observed in 4 Group C patients (4.1%). Morbidity occurred in 2 Group B (2%) and in 5 Group C patients (5.2%). In case of Conn’s or Cushing’s syndrome, left LA with ATS approach is equally safe and effective as compared to the LT and AT approaches. Early control of the adrenal vein with minimal gland manipulation and limited surgical dissection are the major advantages of the submesocolic approach. Even if statistically significant differences are not observed, postoperative results are the same as those reported in the literature with other approaches.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) is becoming the main approach for incidentally discovered adrenal masses (adrenal incidentaloma (AI)). The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of LA with a transperitoneal anterior approach for right adrenal lesions and either a transperitoneal anterior or transperitoneal anterior submesocolic approach for the left-sided lesions. The study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. From January 1994 to December 2012, 393 patients underwent LA, 117 of these for an AI. Sixty-seven (57.26 %) and 50 (42.73 %) patients underwent right and left adrenalectomy, respectively. The transperitoneal anterior approach was used in all 67 patients with right lesions (57.26 %) (group A) and in 13 patients with left-sided lesions (11.11 %) (group B). The transperitoneal anterior submesocolic approach was used in the remaining 37 left-sided lesions (31.62 %) (group C). Mean operative time in groups A, B, and C was 104.6 min (range 35–255), 148.9 min (range 80–210), and 82.7 min (range 45–230), respectively. One right and one left anterior LA (1.7 %) were converted to open surgery. There were one major and one minor complications (1.7 %). The mean lesion size was 4.73 cm (range 1–10 cm). Mean hospital stay was 3.6 days. With adequate experience, LA with a transperitoneal anterior approach for AI is a safe and effective procedure. Early control of the adrenal vein with minimal gland manipulation and limited surgical dissection are its major advantages. In case of left LA, the submesocolic approach reduces the operative time significantly.