3D Laparoscopic Adrenalectomies for Adrenal Tumors

Over recent decades, technological advances such as improved video imaging (high-definition cameras), better instrumentation for dissection and hemostasis, articulating staplers, and optimized operating room lighting have added safety, efficacy, and precision to minimally invasive procedures. However, until recently, laparoscopy required surgeons to operate in a three-dimensional (3D) space with only two-dimensional (2D) images to guide their movements, resulting in a lack of depth perception and loss of spatial orientation that increased the risk of errors, fatigue, operative time, and operating room stress and made the technique difficult to learn.

High-quality 3D laparoscopy was developed as an alternative to conventional 2D laparoscopy. Several clinical trials and observational studies have compared surgical outcomes between 2D and 3D laparoscopic systems; however, few clinical studies have examined the usefulness of 3D laparoscopy systems for adrenalectomies.

Inclusion criteria

• All adult patients (age ≥ 18 years)
• Patients diagnosed with adrenal masses (benign and malignant tumors)
• Underwent a unilateral 3D laparoscopic adrenalectomy from January 2013 to December 2033.

Exclusion criteria

• Emergency surgery.
• Open adrenalectomy.
• Bilateral adrenalectomies (open or laparoscopy).
• Patients who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy together with another laparoscopic surgical procedure in the same intervention.
• Patients without complete follow-up for at least 30 days after hospital discharge.