Surgical Outcomes of Adrenal Mass Management: A Retrospective Analysis

Aim: The shift towards laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) in treating adrenal tumors marks a significant advancement due to its minimally invasive nature, providing enhanced patient outcomes including reduced pain, shorter hospital stays, and lower complication rates compared to open adrenalectomy (OA). This study aims to enrich the literature by presenting a detailed analysis of our adrenalectomy experiences, focusing on patient outcomes, perioperative metrics, and complication rates, to underscore the evolution of our surgical techniques and their significance in enhancing patient care in the realm of adrenal tumor management. Material and Methods: Conducting a retrospective analysis at Bülent Ecevit University Hospital, we examined the outcomes, complications, and perioperative metrics of adrenalectomies. Out of 31 LA patients, 14 underwent conversion to OA, focusing on assessing the procedure's effectiveness and the influence of different factors on surgical choices and results. Results: Demographic analysis revealed no significant variance between patients continuing with LA versus those converted to OA. The conversion was primarily driven by larger tumor sizes, emphasizing procedural difficulties. Predominant reasons for conversion included bleeding, insufficient exposure, and adhesions, indicating the technical intricacies and complication risks of LA. This underscores the pivotal role of surgical skill in technique selection. Conclusion: Despite the challenges, LA stands as the preferred method for managing adrenal tumors, given its benefits over OA. The conversion to OA, heavily reliant on surgical expertise and faced intraoperative issues, highlights the imperative for mastery in LA. Future research should focus on refining LA methods, reducing conversions, and advancing patient care.