Clinical outcome after laparoscopic adrenalectomy for primary hyperaldosteronism: The role of pathology

Background. Primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA) is potentially tumble by laparoscopic unilateral adrenalectomy (LUA). Pre-operative assessment lardy differentiates adrenal adenoma from hyperplasia This study aimed to evaluate the results of LUA for PHA according to pathologic findings when an adrenal mass was identified unequivocally on a CT scan. Methods. A retrospective analysis of LUA for PHA from July 1997 to May 2008 was performed The minimal follow-up was 6 months We considered hypertension to be cured in patients with normal blood pressure without antihypertensive medication (AM). Improvement was defined by a decrease of AM. Results. Fifty-seven patients were included. Thirty-six patients (63%) had an adrenal adenoma and 21 (37%) a hyperplasia. The median follow-up was 6.4 years Hypokalemia was cured In all patients, 33 patients (58%) were clued of their hypertension, and 23 (96% of the 24 noncured patients) were improved with a reduction of the number of AM. Predictive facto's for a cure were. gender, age, BMI duration of hypertension, number of pre-operative AMs, pre-operative arterial systolic blood pressure, creatinin and plasma mini. activity. Postopetative predictive factors were pathology, size the mass, and systolic and diastolic arterial pressures. In the multivariate analysis the only remaining factor was pathology. Conclusion. LUA for PHA cured all patients from then hypokalemia and cured or improved hypertension in 98% Pie-operative diagnosis of adenoma or hypoplasia IS not mandatory but it is important to warn patients that hypertension can persist after adrenalectomy, especially in case of adrenal hyperplasia although tins hypertension is easier to control (Surgery 2010;148:129-34)