Adrenalectomy in Libya: A Retrospective Study

Adrenal surgery for the treatment of adrenal disorders has not yet been the subject of a population-based study. The current study's objective is to assess the practice of adrenalectomy at the national cancer institute of Misrata and identify the advantages of laparoscopic adrenalectomy in comparison to open adrenalectomy. Methods: A retrospective study of 33 adrenal tumors that underwent surgical resection at Misurata Cancer Center from April 2013 up to January 2021. We compared: age, sex, marital status, past medical history, function and size of the tumor, type of surgery, duration of surgery, estimated blood loss, preparation of the patient for surgery, post-operative complications, post-operative discharge day, and mortality. Results: There were 33 adrenal tumors; 63.7% were females and 36.3% were males, with a median age of 41 years. 72.7% of hypertensive patients, 75.8% functional tumors and 24.2% nonfunctional tumors. 81.8% are benign tumors and 18.9% are malignant. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed in 23 cases (69.7%), open adrenalectomy in 10 cases (30.3%), and the mortality rate was 3%. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of adrenal tumors consists of laparoscopic and open adrenalectomy. The type of surgery depends on the size of the tumor and the suspicion of malignancy in the imaging study. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is safe and effective for benign tumors with decreased operative time, less post-operative pain, and a decreased hospital stay.