Adrenalectomy is an operation in which one or both adrenal glands are removed. The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system and are located just above the kidneys.
Description
Adrenalectomy can be performed in two ways. In the "open" surgery, the surgeon makes one large surgical cut to remove the gland. With the "laparoscopic" technique, several small incisions are made. The surgeon will discuss which approach is better for you.
For the surgery, you will be placed under general anesthesia (unconscious and pain-free).
The adrenal gland is sent to a pathologist for examination under a microscope.
Why the Procedure is Performed
The adrenal gland is removed when there is known cancer or a growth (mass) that might be cancer.
Sometimes a mass in the adrenal gland is removed because it releases a hormone that can cause harmful side effects. One of the most common tumors is a pheochromocytoma. This tumor can cause very high blood pressure.
Risks
With any operation or anesthesia, there is a slight risk of:
Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
Breathing problems
Damage to nearby organs in the body
Heart attack or stroke
Infection or bleeding
Reactions to medicines
Wound that breaks open or bulging tissue through the incision (incisional hernia)
Outlook (Prognosis)
It is important to have the procedure done at a center that is experienced in adrenal gland removal.
Before the Procedure
Your surgeon will give you instructions about your diet, including when you should stop eating and drinking. Be sure to have a complete list of your medications so that your surgeon and anesthesiologist can give you instructions about them.
Recovery
As with any operation, there will be discomfort after surgery.
Your health care provider will prescribe pain medications.
You may need stool softeners to avoid constipation.
Your surgeon will give you instructions about restricting your activities.
Complete recovery from the procedure may take several weeks or longer, depending on the type of surgical cuts you have.
Adrenalectomy is an operation in which one or both adrenal glands are removed. The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system and are located just above the kidneys.
Description
Adrenalectomy can be performed in two ways. In the "open" surgery, the surgeon makes one large surgical cut to remove the gland. With the "laparoscopic" technique, several small incisions are made. The surgeon will discuss which approach is better for you.
For the surgery, you will be placed under general anesthesia (unconscious and pain-free).
The adrenal gland is sent to a pathologist for examination under a microscope.
Why the Procedure is Performed
The adrenal gland is removed when there is known cancer or a growth (mass) that might be cancer.
Sometimes a mass in the adrenal gland is removed because it releases a hormone that can cause harmful side effects. One of the most common tumors is a pheochromocytoma. This tumor can cause very high blood pressure.
Risks
With any operation or anesthesia, there is a slight risk of:
Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
Breathing problems
Damage to nearby organs in the body
Heart attack or stroke
Infection or bleeding
Reactions to medicines
Wound that breaks open or bulging tissue through the incision (incisional hernia)
Outlook (Prognosis)
It is important to have the procedure done at a center that is experienced in adrenal gland removal.
Before the Procedure
Your surgeon will give you instructions about your diet, including when you should stop eating and drinking. Be sure to have a complete list of your medications so that your surgeon and anesthesiologist can give you instructions about them.
Recovery
As with any operation, there will be discomfort after surgery.
Your health care provider will prescribe pain medications.
You may need stool softeners to avoid constipation.
Your surgeon will give you instructions about restricting your activities.
Complete recovery from the procedure may take several weeks or longer, depending on the type of surgical cuts you have.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Open Cholecystectomy vs Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Cholecystectomy or gallbladder surgery was once the most common treatment for gallstones. Originally, in order to remove the gallbladder, surgeons had to perform open cholecystectomy by making incision on right upper abdominal about 20 cm lenght. A risky open surgery that required at least a week long hospital stay and a month long recovery period.
Later, advances in medicine allowed surgeons to do laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In this procedure, the surgeon makes tiny incisions in your abdomen and inserts a small camera and cutting tools. So that the result is earlier return of bowel function, less postoperative pain, improved cosmesis, shorter length of hospital stay, earlier return to full activity, and decreased overall cost. While this surgery is safer than open cholecystectomies, it still carries the risk of internal bleeding.
Today, gallbladder surgery is seen as a last resort. The gallbladder is an important organ. Without it, the liver will drip bile directly onto the small intestine. This usually results in chronic diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome, requiring life-long changes in diet.
Also, gallbladder surgery does not prevent new gallstones from forming. Even after gallbladder removal, gallstones can still form in the bile ducts. In fact, 40% of patients who have undergone gallbladder removal report continuing gallstone attacks years after their surgery!
See indications and contraindications on Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy used by surgeon to perform surgical procedure below :
Indications for LC :
Symptomatic cholelithiasis
Biliary colic
Acute cholecystitis
Gallstone pancreatitis
Asymptomatic cholelithiasis
Sickle cell disease
Total parenteral nutrition
Chronic immunosuppression
No immediate access to health care facilities (e.g., missionaries, military personnel, peace corps workers, relief workers)
Incidental cholecystectomy for patients undergoing procedure for other indications
Acalculous cholecystitis (biliary dyskinesia)
Gallbladder polyps >1 cm in diameter
Porcelain gallbladder
Contraindication :
Absolute
Unable to tolerate general anesthesia
Refractory coagulopathy
Suspicion of gallbladder carcinoma
Relative
Previous upper abdominal surgery
Cholangitis
Diffuse peritonitis
Cirrhosis and/or portal hypertension
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Cholecystoenteric fistula
Morbid obesity
Pregnancy
Later, advances in medicine allowed surgeons to do laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In this procedure, the surgeon makes tiny incisions in your abdomen and inserts a small camera and cutting tools. So that the result is earlier return of bowel function, less postoperative pain, improved cosmesis, shorter length of hospital stay, earlier return to full activity, and decreased overall cost. While this surgery is safer than open cholecystectomies, it still carries the risk of internal bleeding.
Today, gallbladder surgery is seen as a last resort. The gallbladder is an important organ. Without it, the liver will drip bile directly onto the small intestine. This usually results in chronic diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome, requiring life-long changes in diet.
Also, gallbladder surgery does not prevent new gallstones from forming. Even after gallbladder removal, gallstones can still form in the bile ducts. In fact, 40% of patients who have undergone gallbladder removal report continuing gallstone attacks years after their surgery!
See indications and contraindications on Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy used by surgeon to perform surgical procedure below :
Indications for LC :
Symptomatic cholelithiasis
Biliary colic
Acute cholecystitis
Gallstone pancreatitis
Asymptomatic cholelithiasis
Sickle cell disease
Total parenteral nutrition
Chronic immunosuppression
No immediate access to health care facilities (e.g., missionaries, military personnel, peace corps workers, relief workers)
Incidental cholecystectomy for patients undergoing procedure for other indications
Acalculous cholecystitis (biliary dyskinesia)
Gallbladder polyps >1 cm in diameter
Porcelain gallbladder
Contraindication :
Absolute
Unable to tolerate general anesthesia
Refractory coagulopathy
Suspicion of gallbladder carcinoma
Relative
Previous upper abdominal surgery
Cholangitis
Diffuse peritonitis
Cirrhosis and/or portal hypertension
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Cholecystoenteric fistula
Morbid obesity
Pregnancy
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