When medical therapy is ineffective or does not exist for a particular adrenal disease, surgery becomes necessary. The introduction of laparoscopic adrenalectomy has revolutionized adrenal surgery and largely supplanted the open approach. In this series we introduced three cases of aldosterone producing adenoma and pheochromocytoma which underwent laparascopic adrenalectomy. To the best of our knowledge, this surgical procedure was done for the first time in our educational center in west Azarbayjan. We describe three cases and procedural details of a minimally invasive laparoscopic adrenalectomy- two patients with pheochromocytoma and one patient with primary hyperaldostronism- that was performed at Imam Khomaini hospital in Urmia. The procedure required specifically trained, advanced laparoscopic surgery team and showed remarkable advantages in comparison with open procedure in terms of blood loss, shorter hospital stay, rapid healing and return to normal function. We believe that such minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures should be carried out in other health care centers throughout this country so that patients may benefit from this proven role in patient care.

  Source : Urmia Med J 2012: 23(1): 90 ISSN: 1027-3727