Adrenalectomy is the surgical removal of one or two adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are the part of the endocrine system and are just located above the kidneys. It is generally advised for patients with tumors caused to adrenal glands. The procedure is performed using an –
OPEN INCISION (LAPAROTOMY):
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In the anterior approach, initially doctor will make a incision into the abdominal wall and usually the incision will be horizontal, it will be just under the rib cage. If the doctor intend to operate only one adrenal glands, the incision will will be either the right or the left side of the rib cage. Sometimes a vertical incision in the center of the abdomen provides a superior approach, especially if both adrenal glands are involved.
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In the posterior approach, initially doctor will make a incision into the back, just under the rib cage. If both glands are to be removed, then the incision is made on each side of the body. This approach is the most direct way to the adrenal glands, but it is wont provide relatively as clear a view of the surrounding structures as the anterior approach.
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In the flank approach, the doctor makes a incision into the patient’s side. This is particularly useful in massively obese patients. If both glands are requires to be removed, first doctor must remove one gland, repair the surgical wound, then turn the patient onto the other side, and repeat the entire process.
LAPAROSCOPIC TECHNIQUE:
The main benefit of this procedure is it was less postoperative pain, shorter term hospital stay, faster return to normal activity, risk is less of herniation or wound separation
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Laparoscopic adrenalectomy uses a telescope-like instrument it is very thin in structure called a laparoscope, which is inserted through a small incision in the flank (fleshy area between the ribs and hip).
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This laparoscope was connected to a tiny video camera that is smaller than a dime, which will projects a view of the operative site on the video monitors located in the operating room.
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Carbon dioxide gas was inflated into the abdomen, that will allows doctor a better view of particular operative area. 2 or 3 additional small incisions are made near the laparoscope in which the doctor inserts a particular surgical instruments through the inscisions.
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The doctor manipulates these instruments to perform the adrenalectomy. Following these procedure, later these small incisions were closed with sutures and covered with surgical tape. After a few months, they are hardly visible.
