Your adrenal glands regulate the production of hormones. You have two triangular-shaped adrenal glands located above the kidneys. The major reason that these glands malfunction is the production of excessive hormones connected with the formation of tumors. Most adrenal gland tumors are benign but contribute to high blood pressure, high blood sugar, anxiety, sporadic palpitations, excessive sweating, and low blood potassium levels. Your primary physician will refer you to a Victorville General Surgeon to validate a suspected adrenal tumor and to schedule an operation to remove the tumor.
The surgery is performed in an operating room, requires 2 to 4 hours for completion, and it requires a short hospital stay of 2 to 5 days after the surgery. An anesthesiologist gives you a general anesthetic so you will sleep through the procedure and not feel any pain. Before your surgery, you’ll be instructed on how to prepare for your adrenalectomy, how to prepare your home for recovery, when you can resume driving and other normal daily activities, and when to schedule a follow-up office appointment.
Adrenalectomy
Whether your operation is the traditional open operation or the minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure, both surgeries proceed the same after the anesthesia takes effect, and the surgeon makes the incisions.
The surgeon locates the adrenal gland, or glands, needing removal. The surgeon will separate the adrenal gland from the surrounding tissues and cauterize the blood vessels. The detached gland is put in a plastic bag and removed from your body. The surgeon removes the medical instruments, the operation site is sterilized with a saline solution, and the incisions are closed with sutures. The sutures are covered with steri-strip tapes and a gauze dressing.
An Open Adrenalectomy requires one long incision across your abdomen or your flank area, depending on the location of the surgery site. This method gives the surgeon room to insert his hands to perform the operation.
A Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy requires 3 to 5 small incisions in your abdomen and flank areas below your rib cage. This method requires the insertion of a thin surgical scope with an attached camera, so the surgeon has an enhanced view of the operation site on a screen. The surgeon inserts additional instruments in the other incisions to use during the procedure.
