Adrenalectomy

About the organ. The adrenal glands sit above your kidneys. They are endocrine glands that produce various hormones (adrenaline, aldosterone and cortisol) which help regulate essential functions like your blood pressure, metabolism, immune system, and also to response to stress.

What is the procedure? Adrenalectomy is the surgical removal of one or both adrenal glands. 

When is it needed? You may need to have surgery to remove the adrenal tumor if it is producing excess hormones or has suspicion for malignancy. If both adrenal glands are removed, you’ll need to take hormone medications but if only one gland is removed, the remaining gland will take over the function of the removed gland.

How it’s done. There are various approaches to adrenal surgery including open and minimally invasive (key hole). Dr Sze Ling Wong performs both laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy as these techniques resulted in reduced postoperative pain, less morbidity, shorter hospital stay and an earlier return to normal activity compared with open adrenalectomy.