Above each of your kidneys sits an adrenal gland that helps regulate a variety bodily functions, including your blood pressure, and metabolism rates. When a problem arises with one of these glands, it can throw your whole body out of whack and lead to some dangerous complications. If a problem occurs with one or both of your adrenal glands, you may need an adrenalectomy. Here’s a closer look at the operation.

Arenalectomy Basics

As the name implies, an adrenalectomy is a procedure that addresses your adrenal glands. One common reason why a person would need an adrenalectomy is because of a tumor on one or both of the glands. These tumors can be either benign or cancerous, but the presence of a tumor usually leads to excess hormone production, which can cause other problems. Adrenal tumors can also caused other problems, like:

• Hormone irregularities causing a spike in blood pressure
• Heart palpitations
• Obesity
• High blood sugar
• Menstrual Irregularities

These symptoms may indicate that there’s an issue with your adrenal gland, and you should speak with an endocrine system specialist.

Adrenal Gland Removal

Depending on your situation, you may need to have one or both of your adrenal glands removed. If you only need to have one gland removed, the other gland has the capability to take over and provide your body with full functioning. If, however, both adrenal glands need to be removed, your surgeon will need to get you on a steroid regimen to ensure your body functions as it should without assistance from the adrenal glands.

If your doctor determines that you need an adrenalectomy, they will begin by giving you a general anesthesia. This anesthesia will put you to sleep so that you do not feel any pain during the surgical operation. Your doctor will then perform either an open or laparoscopic adrenalectomy based on your situation and you wishes prior to surgery. Here’s a look at the two procedures:

• Open Adrenalectomy – This procedure is generally used if the tumors on your adrenal glands are large in size. This procedure involves making large incisions under your ribcage or on the sides of your body. The incision is large enough for the doctor to directly access the gland and the blood vessels attached to the glands. The surgeon will then disconnect each gland from the surrounding blood vessels and tissues and tie off the blood vessels as necessary. The surgeon will then remove the adrenal glands before sterilizing the area on closing the wound.
• Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy – This procedure is the more common type of adrenalectomy, as it’s less taxing on the patient’s body. It also reduces the risk for infection as the surgical site is much smaller. In a laparoscopic adrenalectomy, the surgeon will make a few small incisions in your abdomen near your belly button. The surgeon will insert a tube with a tiny camera attached to it into one of the openings so they can see the surgical site. The doctor will then access the site through another small opening and address the gland and appropriate blood vessels. The glands will be removed and you’ll be stitched up by the surgeon. This method is also preferred because it offers a shorter recovery time.