Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for Right and Left Large Adrenal Masses: Tips & Tricks

Laura Antolino, MD; Giovanni Moschetta, MD; Maria Sole Mattei, MD; Niccol

Product Details
Product ID: ACS-5853
Year Produced: 2019
Length: 10 min.


In 1992 was described the first Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy. Nowadays Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy has became the gold standard for both functioning and non functioning adrenal tumors, but huge masses are challenging with this approach. In this video, we wish to represent the main aspects of this diffused surgical technique, together with peculiar aspects that can be of great academic and didactic interest. The adrenal masses can develop in two directions: downwards or upwards. Downwards directed tumors will be tipically more difficult to dissociate from kidney hilum in left sided masses or inferior vena cava in right sided masses. Upwards extending neoplasms will tend to localize themselves posterolaterally, entering in a close relationship with the liver for right adrenal masses or the spleen for the left adrenal masses; in those situations masses will be more easily dissociable from the vascular structures, but the need for extensive manipulation will then carry a higher risk of rupture and disease dissemination. To the right, a special attention must be paid to the Inferior Vena Cava, which has to be dissected caudocranially: a potential hemorrage occuring with a direct approach of the adrenal vein, would be indeed hard to handle, without the adequate former Inferior Vena Cava preparation. Whilst in left sided tumors caution has to be paid to the left renal vein, easily damaged in this challenging dissection.