Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for Large Ganglioneuroma

Brent D. Matthews, MD, FACS

Product Details
Product ID: ACS-2287
Year Produced: 2003
Length: 10 min.


With the widespread use of non-invasive radiographic imaging modalities, surgeons are being faced with an increasing number of incidentally discovered adrenal tumors. Adrenal incidentalomas require thorough metabolic evaluation to ensure their non-function. Once determined the mass is non-functioning, a size greater than 6 cm typically mandates removal. This video depicts a 24 year old female with a 9 cm left adrenal incidentaloma who underwent a laparoscopic left adrenalectomy. the patient was placed in the right lateral position and a standard left subcostal three-port technique used. The left colon was mobilized medially allowing for delineation of Gerota's fascia and the adrenal tumor. The spleen was also rolled medially, and Gerota's fascia opened identifying the left renal vein and large adrenal vein. The adrenal vein was transected with an endo GIA stapling device. Dissection revealed interdigitation of the adrenal tumor between the renal artery and vein, inferiorly, and the superior mesenteric arter, superiorly. After complete mobilization, the tumor was placed in an impermeable entrapement sac, exteriorized and morcellated. The patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery and pathologic examiniation revealed a benign tumor arising from mature nerve cells in the sympathetic ganglia consistent iwh a ganglioneuroma.