Surgical management of open versus laparoscopic adrenalectomy: outcome analysis.

Abstract Purpose: The authors sought to compare the outcome of children undergoing open versus laparoscopic adrenalectomy for an adrenal tumor. Methods: Medical records of children that underwent an adrenalectomy from 1990 through 1999 were reviewed. Sixty-four adrenalectomies were performed: 27 pheochromocytomas, 36 neuroblastomas, and 1 virilizing tumor. Sixty adrenalectomies were performed open and 4 laparoscopically. The patient's age, surgical length of stay, operative charge, hospital cost, operating time, blood loss, and outcome were examined. Results: Mean age for an open procedure was 8.9 ± 0.9 years and 14 ± 1.1 for laparoscopic ( P =.019). Surgical length of stay for open was 5.4 ±.38 days and 2.7 ±.62 days for laparoscopic ( P =.006). Patient operative charges were $12,941 ± 676 for laparoscopic and $4,714 ± 411 for open ( P Conclusions: Adrenalectomy for benign tumors can be performed safely. In selected children a laparoscopic procedure can be expected to decrease the surgical length of stay without increasing operating time or complications. J Pediatr Surg 37:1027-1029. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.