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Adrenalectomy—Open Surgery

by Amy Scholten, MPH

Home | Health Information Center | Procedure & Surgery Fact Sheets | Article

Definition

Reasons for Procedure

Possible Complications

What to Expect

Call Your Doctor

En Español

Definition

Adrenalectomy is surgery to remove one or both adrenal glands. These glands are on top of the kidneys. They make hormones that help the body to work properly.

Adrenal Glands

Reasons for Procedure

This is done to treat:

Adrenal cancer
Diseases of the adrenal gland, such as Cushing syndrome, Conn syndrome, or pheochromocytoma
A mass in an adrenal gland

Possible Complications

Problems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. The doctor will go over some problems that could happen, such as:

Excess bleeding
Problems from anesthesia, such as wheezing or sore throat
Infection
Blood clots
Injury to nearby structures
Low levels of cortisol—a hormone the helps the body respond to stress

Things that may raise the risk of problems are:

Smoking
Drinking alcohol
Chronic diseases, such as diabetes or obesity

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

The surgical team may meet with you to talk about:

Anesthesia options
Any allergies you may have
Current medicines, herbs, and supplements that you take and whether you need to stop taking them before surgery
Fasting before surgery, such as avoiding food or drink after midnight the night before
Whether you need a ride to and from surgery

Anesthesia

General anesthesia will be used. You will be asleep.

Description of the Procedure

An incision will be made under the rib cage or abdomen. The adrenal gland will then be removed through the incision. The incision will be closed with stitches or staples. A bandage will be placed over the site.

The doctor may place a tiny tube into the area where the gland was removed. The tube will drain fluids that may build up after surgery. It will be taken out within one week after surgery.

Immediately After Procedure

The adrenal gland(s) will be sent to a lab to be checked. You will be sent to a recovery room.

How Long Will It Take?

1½ hours to 3½ hours

Will It Hurt?

Pain and swelling are common in the first 1 to 2 weeks. Medicine and home care help.

Average Hospital Stay

4 to 5 days

Postoperative Care

At the Hospital

Right after the procedure, the staff may:

Give you pain medicines
Give IV fluids until you are able to eat

During your stay, the hospital staff will take steps to lower your risk of infection, such as:

Washing their hands
Wearing gloves or masks
Keeping your incisions covered

There are also steps you can take to lower your risk of infection, such as:

Washing your hands often and reminding visitors and staff to do the same
Reminding staff to wear gloves or masks
Not letting others touch your incision

At Home

It will take about 4 to 6 weeks to recover. Physical activity will be limited during this time. You will need to delay your return to work.

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if you are not getting better or you have:

Signs of infection, such as fever and chills
Redness, swelling, excess bleeding, or discharge from the incision
Nausea or vomiting
Pain that you cannot control with medicine
Problems urinating, such as bleeding that does not go away
New or worsening symptoms

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES:

Urology Care Foundation
http://www.urologyhealth.org

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
https://www.niddk.nih.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Urological Association
http://www.cua.org

The Kidney Foundation of Canada
https://www.kidney.ca

References:

Aporowicz M, Domosławski P. et al. Perioperative complications of adrenalectomy—12 years of experience from a single center/teaching hospital and literature review. Arch Med Sci. 2018 Aug; 14(5): 1010–1019.

Cushing Disease. EBSCO DynaMed wesbite. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/cushing-disease. Accessed January 12, 2021.

Open Adrenalectomy Technique. Medscape. Available at: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1895027-technique. Accessed January 12, 2021.

You and your hormones. Society for Endocrinology. Available at: https://www.yourhormones.info/glands/adrenal-glands. Accessed January 12, 2021

Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD
Last Updated: 1/12/2021

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