Minimally invasive retroperitoneal adrenalectomy

Abstract

The minimally invasive MI approach has become the gold standard in removing the adrenal gland. Both transperitoneal and retroperitoneal techniques were reported safe and effective. The retroperitoneal approach has the advantage of direct access to the gland, easy access to retrocaval tumors, carries no cardiovascular or pulmonary risk of carbon dioxide insufflation to a high intra-abdominal pressure, and is not affected by previous abdominal surgery or radiation. We report a case of MI retroperitoneal adrenalectomy for right adrenal incidentaloma in a recently diagnosed breast cancer patient with multiple medical problems, and emphasize the advantage of this approach over the MI transperitoneal approach in the presence of patient's co-morbidity.