Is previous same quadrant surgery a contraindication to laparoscopic adrenalectomy?

Background: Previous abdominal surgery may present a challenge to safely completing laparoscopic adrenalectomy. We evaluated the impact of previous ipsilateral upper abdominal surgery on laparoscopic adrenalectomy outcomes. Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospective databases was performed for patients that underwent laparoscopic transabdominal adrenalectomy at 2 tertiary centers between 2001 and 2011. Patients with previous ipsilateral upper abdominal surgery, contralateral upper abdominal surgery, or no relevant surgery were compared. Results: Of the 217 patients, 38 (17%) had previous ipsilateral upper abdominal surgeries, 17 (8%) had contralateral upper abdominal surgeries, and 162 (75%) had no relevant surgery. Adhesions were more common in the ipsilateral upper abdominal surgery group (63% vs 24% vs 17%; P <.001). Mean operative times (173 ± 100 vs 130 ± 76 vs 149 ± 77 minutes; P =.16) and intraoperative complication rates (3% vs 0% vs 3%; P =.55) were not different. The rate of conversion to open surgery was similar for the 3 groups (11% vs 6% vs 3%; P =.08); all 4 conversions in the ipsilateral upper abdominal surgery group followed previous open procedures. Mean duration of stay and postoperative complication rates were also comparable between the 3 groups. Conclusion: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with previous ipsilateral upper abdominal surgery is feasible and safe, with comparable outcomes to those without previous relevant surgery, including contralateral upper abdominal surgery.