What are adrenal glands?
The adrenal glands are hormone producing glands located above each kidney. The outer part, or cortex, produces the steroid hormones cortisol, aldosterone, and testosterone. The inner part, or medulla, produces epinephrine and norepinephrine which are commonly called adrenaline and noradrenaline.
Though relatively uncommon, adrenal gland tumors are the primary reason for adrenal gland surgery. The majority of these tumors are very small and not cancerous but they often cause over production of hormones and need to be removed. If the tumors are large, or are suspected to be cancerous, the entire adrenal gland may need to be removed.
Tumors that most often require surgery are called pheochromocytomas, aldosterone-producing tumors, and cortisol-producing tumors.
Adrenal masses are usually discovered when tests such as a CT scan or MRI are performed for other reasons.
When a problem occurs in the adrenal glands, a number of symptoms occur depending on whether the problem is causing the adrenal glands to produce too much or too little of a particular hormone.
Laparoscopic Adrenal Gland Surgery
A Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the preferred procedure for treating non-cancerous (benign) adrenal tumors.
Surgeons at Surgical Consultants of Hollywood perform the majority of adrenalectomy surgeries using laparoscopic techniques. The small incisions, shorter hospital stay and more rapid recovery is a major advantage over traditional open procedures.
With the patient under general anesthesia, a laparoscope is inserted into the abdomen. The Laparoscope is attached to a tiny camera so that the surgeon has a magnified view of your internal organs and can perform the surgery while viewing the surgical area on a screen.
Using other instrument inserted through three or four other small holes in the abdomen, our surgeons dissect the adrenal gland free and remove it through one of the small holes. In most cases, only a part of the gland needs to be removed. Once the procedure is complete, the small holes used to insert the instruments are closed.