Adrenalectomy (Adrenal Gland Removal)

You’ll need to make specific preparations leading up to the day of your surgery. You may need additional imaging tests. Or you might need to take medication or follow specific dietary guidelines. Your provider will talk with you before your appointment so you know what to expect.

Because you’ll receive general anesthesia for your procedure, you should arrange for someone to drive you to and from your surgery.

During an adrenalectomy, a surgeon removes part or all of your adrenal gland(s). They can do this a few different ways:

• Laparoscopic adrenalectomy. A surgeon makes one to four small incisions in your abdomen. Then, they place tiny surgical instruments through the incisions and remove your adrenal gland(s) with the help of a camera. In most cases, surgeons do adrenalectomies laparoscopically. Surgeons typically perform adrenalectomies laparoscopically because it’s minimally invasive.
• Robotic adrenalectomy. Like laparoscopic surgery, this approach requires one to four small incisions in your abdomen. But instead of doing the surgery by hand, a surgeon uses a computer console and a 3D camera to remove your adrenal gland(s).
• Open adrenalectomy. This traditional approach requires one long incision across your abdomen. A surgeon might choose this method to remove larger tumors or if you have adrenocortical carcinoma.

Your healthcare provider will review these options with you and determine which method is best for your situation.

On average, an adrenalectomy takes about two to three hours to complete.

As with any surgical procedure, complications can happen. They’re more likely with an open adrenalectomy.

Possible complications include:

• Bleeding and blood clots
• Damage to nearby organs
• Hernia
• Infection
• Reactions to anesthesia
• Problems with wound healing