Adrenal glands regulate body function and these are present on the top of both kidneys. Any abnormal change in these glands and their function then adrenalectomy is performed. It is a medical procedure performed to remove a tumor of adrenal glands which is done by making a small cut which gets recovered quickly by a surgeon. In this adrenal disorder, the glands produce extra hormones. Doctors advise this open surgery after determining an individual’s medical condition.

Reasons for Adrenalectomy

It is required when a person is diagnosed with the following adrenal disorders:-

Adrenal cancer causes imbalance hormones.
Tumor gets spread from other parts of the body to the adrenal gland.
Adrenal tumors grow in large sizes which may be cancerous and non cancerous.

Adrenalectomy Surgery

There are many surgical processes to removal cancerous adrenal glands and these are as follows:-

1. Robotic Adrenalectomy

It is a minor operation in which adrenal glands are removed by using surgical robots. It includes the following steps:-

Patient has to be in the flank position by putting arms behind their hips.
Now local anaesthesia is given by a surgeon to the patient. Then it starts with making a small cut in the abdomen and removing the cancerous part.
Once the procedure is done then the cut is closed with stitches.

2. Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy

It starts with numbing the area.
A small cut is made in the abdomen that depends on the size of the adrenal gland.
Telescope is placed and other instruments are used to take out the part that contains the tumor.
Incision is closed by using sutures.

3. Bilateral Adrenalectomy

It treats Cushing’s disorder in which both glands have to be removed. Before starting the procedure, you should take steroid hormones.

4. Open Adrenalectomy

It includes the following steps:-

A long cut is made in the abdomen after giving general anesthesia..
Then the tumor is removed.
Now the cut is closed by using sutures.

5. Partial Adrenalectomy

Tumor is removed the whole adrenal gland.

A local anesthesia is given then a small cut is made.
The adrenal gland is dissected carefully.
Now the tumor is removed without altering the adrenal cortex.
Once the process is done then a doctor closes the cut by stitching.

6. Retroperitoneoscopic Adrenalectomy

Person is lie down by lifting the pelvis and the chest and this will help to hang the abdomen freely.
Doctor numbs the area by giving anesthesia.
A cut is made from the back side of the abdomen to remove adrenal gland.
After completing the procedure, the cut is stitched.

Risk of Adrenalectomy

After undergoing the adrenal surgery, the procedure has some risks:-

Blood clots
Pneumonia
Delayed wound healing
Infection
Reactions to anesthesia
Bleeding
Changes in blood pressure
Organs near the adrenal gland may get injured

Recovery

It takes one to two weeks to recover from adrenalectomy for a normal operation. For an open surgery, it may take longer. Its operation may cause some pain and swelling around the incision site. Your doctor will advise you to take pain relieving medicines while following some instructions.