Indications for Adrenalectomy
Total adrenalectomy is indicated when there is no positive effect from conservative treatment or partial resection of the organ. This condition can develop in the following diseases:
- Hormone-active adenoma with progressive growth;
- Complicated Cushing's disease;
- Conn's syndrome;
- Pheochromocytoma;
- Metastasis of tumors from other organs;
- Medullary cyst that hinders the proper functioning of the organ.
Adrenal gland dysfunction is characterized by pronounced symptoms. The patient may experience high blood pressure, tachycardia, dysuric phenomena, migraine attacks, weight gain, reduced libido, and more. Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention for early diagnosis of adrenal diseases.
Prices
How is the consultation going?
Preparation for adrenal gland removal surgery begins with a comprehensive workup that includes blood tests, a hormone profile, a coagulation panel, and computed tomography to precisely determine the location and nature of the mass. Patients with hormonally active tumors, such as pheochromocytoma, receive special medication preparation on the eve of surgery to stabilize blood pressure and reduce the risk of intraoperative complications. Blood-thinning medications are adjusted as directed by the physician. The last meal is permitted 8–12 hours before the surgical procedure. The physician at Helios Medical Center discusses all the details of the preparation with the patient during the preoperative consultation.
After a laparoscopic adrenalectomy, patients usually stay in the hospital for 1 to 3 days and then continue their recovery at home until they fully return to their usual activity. The pace of rehabilitation depends on the type of tumor. With pheochromocytoma, blood pressure normalizes in the first days after surgery. With aldosterone-producing tumors, potassium levels usually return to normal soon after the adrenalectomy, whereas a decrease in blood pressure may take from several weeks to several months. At Helios Medical Center, the patient receives detailed recommendations on activity and nutrition at discharge.
For small, hormonally inactive adrenal masses, a watchful-waiting approach with regular follow-up monitoring is possible. For certain hormonally active tumors, such as in primary hyperaldosteronism, medication therapy with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists may be used as an alternative to surgery. However, in the case of malignant tumors and masses with signs of hormonal activity that do not respond to conservative treatment, adrenalectomy remains the treatment of choice.
When one adrenal gland is removed, the other one usually compensates for its function, so most patients do not need hormone therapy after a unilateral adrenalectomy and live without significant restrictions. After removal of both adrenal glands, lifelong hormone replacement therapy is required. The cost of a laparoscopic adrenalectomy at Helios Medical Center can be found out during a consultation with the surgeon after a comprehensive examination. How much adrenal gland removal costs in a specific case depends on the extent of the operation and the length of the hospital stay.
