Recommendation for laparoscopic ultrasound guided laparoscopic left lateral transabdominal adrenalectomy.

Background: Left sided adrenalectomy may be associated with intraoperative bleeding and conversion or injury of the pancreatic tail leading to postoperative fistula. Another problem may be the identification of adrenal mass in the case of previous upper abdominal surgery. Intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS) enables the safe plane of dissection, identification of key structures and reduction of conversion and complication rate to the minimum.

Methods: Laparoscopic left lateral transabdominal adrenalectomy (LTA) was performed in 94 patients. LUS was performed in 50 patients with identification of adrenal mass, its vascularization and surrounding anatomical planes.

Results: Laparoscopic left LTA with LUS was associated with significant shorter operating time, smaller rate of conversions and intraoperative bleeding in comparison to the group without intraoperative ultrasound.

Conclusions: Intraoperative ultrasound during laparoscopic left LTA is a very effective method of navigation and its use should be taken into consideration especially in cases when the visualization and possibility of safe dissection are reduced.