Adrenalectomy is the surgical removal of one or both adrenal glands. It is usually advised for patients with tumors of the adrenal glands. The procedure can be performed using an open incision or laparoscopic technique.

What is the meaning of the medical term adrenalectomy?

An adrenalectomy (uh-dree-nul-EK-tuh-me) is surgery to remove one or both adrenal glands. One adrenal gland sits above each of your kidneys. Your two adrenal glands produce various hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, blood sugar and other essential functions.

How serious is an adrenalectomy?

Adrenalectomy is considered to be a relatively safe surgical procedure. However, its perioperative complication rate varies between 1.7% and 30.7% [1, 2]. In the past many features were assessed as possible risk factors for complications.