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Medically Reviewed by: Christopher J. Hart, MD, FACS (NPI: 1295797371) & William H. Johnson, MD, FACS
"Surgery on the adrenal glands requires extreme precision due to their location near the kidneys and major blood vessels. By utilizing laparoscopic and robotic platforms, we are able to remove adrenal tumors or overactive glands through tiny incisions. For our patients in the Johns Creek and Cumming areas, this means significantly less blood loss, a shorter hospital stay, and a much faster return to normal hormonal balance and daily life."
Dr. Christopher J. Hart & Dr. William H. Johnson
The adrenal glands are small, triangular-shaped organs that are located above each kidney. They are endocrine organs, producing essential hormones that are involved in many bodily functions including blood pressure, fluid and electrolyte maintenance, glucose control, and the adrenaline reaction during stress. The hormones produced include cortisol, aldosterone, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and some of the body’s sex hormones. Only one adrenal gland is needed to provide the body’s necessary hormones.
The development of disease in the adrenal glands is rare. The most common cause of a patient needing to have an adrenal gland removed is the development of a tumor that causes release of an excess hormone. These tumors can cause a variety of symptoms, some of which can be quite serious. Some adrenal tumors need to be removed even if they aren’t producing any excess hormones. These tumors need to be removed if they reach a certain size or have other characteristics suspicious for a malignant neoplasm. Some examples of adrenal tumors include:
Other examples of adrenal tumors include some sex-hormone producing tumors, metastatic lesions from other cancers such as breast or lung cancer, or primary adrenal cancer.
Removal of the adrenal gland is the preferred treatment for patients with adrenal tumors that secrete excess hormones, primary adrenal tumors that appear malignant, and other adrenal masses. This procedure is now commonly done laparoscopically, which had proven to be a major advancement in the management of adrenal tumors. This approach leads to a faster recovery, less post-operative pain and a shorter hospital stay than the traditional open surgery.
Adrenal masses do require a comprehensive medical work up. We will be happy to talk with you in concert with your endocrinologist and/or your primary care physician to determine if you are a candidate for a laparoscopic adrenalectomy.
The most common reasons for an adrenalectomy (removal of the adrenal gland) include the presence of a tumor (either benign or malignant), a tumor that is overproducing hormones (such as in Cushing’s Syndrome or Conn’s Syndrome), or a large growth (incidentaloma) found during imaging for another issue.
Laparoscopic surgery is the gold standard for most adrenal removals. Benefits include significantly smaller incisions, less postoperative pain, a lower risk of infection, and a faster recovery. Most of our patients at Johns Creek Surgery are able to return home much sooner than they would with a traditional open incision.
While every patient is different, most people spend one night in the hospital for observation. You can typically resume light activity within a few days and return to work or normal routines within 1 to 2 weeks. Dr. Hart and Dr. Johnson will provide a specific recovery timeline based on your individual health needs.
If only one adrenal gland is removed and the remaining gland is healthy, it will typically produce all the hormones your body needs. However, if the surgery was performed for a hormone-producing tumor, your endocrinologist and surgeon may monitor your levels closely during the healing phase to ensure your system rebalances correctly.
When faced with needing surgery it’s important to consider all of your options. There are numerous benefits to having surgery in an outpatient ambulatory surgical center like Atlanta General and Bariatric Surgery Center (AGBSC). Our surgery center is located in Johns Creek, GA, and serves patients from all over the Metro Atlanta area and beyond including Macon, Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Roswell, Duluth, Cumming, and Gainesville, GA. Our board certified surgeons provide a carefully structured general surgery and weight loss program for all patients in a comfortable, caring and less stressful environment.