Benefits of Adrenal Scope Surgery
The Posterior Retroperitoneoscopic Adrenalectomy (Back Scope Adrenal Operation) is the preferred technique in >95 % of adrenal surgery cases.
Here are the top beneficial reasons of this scope surgery:
• The operation is the safest. There is less mobilization (i.e. dissection of surrounding structures). This leads to less risk of injury to surrounding structures such as the kidney, liver, spleen, pancreas, bowel, or major vessels such as the inferior vena cava; IVC. You want the safest possible operation. Dr. Carling has never had an injury to surrounding structures.
• The operation is much faster than any other techniques. There is no value in a fast operation, per se. The operation needs to take as long as is required to get the job done. However, a fast operation means that your surgeons is experienced and knows what he/she is doing. It is not uncommon that an adrenalectomy that would take 2-4 hours at the most prestigious hospitals (yes, we are talking about the top 20 hospitals in the US News & World Report), can be performed by Dr. Carling in 20-30 minutes. Again, there is no value in a fast operation, per se. However, a faster operation means less time under general anesthesia. Although, general anesthesia is very safe, the longer time the patient is under general anesthesia, the greater risk of anesthesia-related complications such as nausea, vomiting, blood clots, pulmonary embolism, neurocognitive symptoms and in some cases long-term effects on cognition and memory.
• The surgeon does not need to enter the intra-abdominal cavity. This means that even for patients with previous operations on the abdomen, the surgeon does not need to deal with adhesions (scar tissue). Intra-abdominal scars (known as adhesions) may be from previous operations such as bariatric surgery (gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass), gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy), liver surgery, stomach surgery, bowel surgery of any kind (colectomy, appendectomy, etc) or any previous kind of gynecological operations (Caesarian section, hysterectomy, etc). Also, this means you are not at risk of developing future intra-abdominal scars (known as adhesions) which can lead to problems with small bowel obstruction (SBO)
• The risk of developing a postoperative, incisional hernia (breakdown or weakness of the abdominal wall muscles) is much lower.
• There is less postoperative pain. Many patients only take Tylenol (acetaminophen) after the operation. Very few patients need strong pain-killers.
• The patients can go home faster. The typical patient would spend less <23 hours in the hospital.
• The recovery is faster. You may return to work within days. You can start your hobbies, and exercises a lot faster, whether you engage in walking, running, biking, gym exercises, yoga, weight lifting, skiing, tennis, golf or any other work-outs.
• The cosmetic outcome is exceptional and superior to any other technique.
• There is no blood loss in this operation. Yes, it is true. Watch Dr. Carling’s surgical videos and you can see that there is no blood loss. There is less blood loss when Dr. Carling performs a scope adrenalectomy (PRA) compared to when you have your annual blood tests by your primary doctor. Dr. Carling has never, ever in his entire career had to order a blood transfusion.
• For patients requiring bilateral adrenalectomy, there is no moving, flipping and turning the patient around during the operation. This is better for the patients and the entire operating room staff.
Here are the top beneficial reasons of this scope surgery:
• The operation is the safest. There is less mobilization (i.e. dissection of surrounding structures). This leads to less risk of injury to surrounding structures such as the kidney, liver, spleen, pancreas, bowel, or major vessels such as the inferior vena cava; IVC. You want the safest possible operation. Dr. Carling has never had an injury to surrounding structures.
• The operation is much faster than any other techniques. There is no value in a fast operation, per se. The operation needs to take as long as is required to get the job done. However, a fast operation means that your surgeons is experienced and knows what he/she is doing. It is not uncommon that an adrenalectomy that would take 2-4 hours at the most prestigious hospitals (yes, we are talking about the top 20 hospitals in the US News & World Report), can be performed by Dr. Carling in 20-30 minutes. Again, there is no value in a fast operation, per se. However, a faster operation means less time under general anesthesia. Although, general anesthesia is very safe, the longer time the patient is under general anesthesia, the greater risk of anesthesia-related complications such as nausea, vomiting, blood clots, pulmonary embolism, neurocognitive symptoms and in some cases long-term effects on cognition and memory.
• The surgeon does not need to enter the intra-abdominal cavity. This means that even for patients with previous operations on the abdomen, the surgeon does not need to deal with adhesions (scar tissue). Intra-abdominal scars (known as adhesions) may be from previous operations such as bariatric surgery (gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass), gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy), liver surgery, stomach surgery, bowel surgery of any kind (colectomy, appendectomy, etc) or any previous kind of gynecological operations (Caesarian section, hysterectomy, etc). Also, this means you are not at risk of developing future intra-abdominal scars (known as adhesions) which can lead to problems with small bowel obstruction (SBO)
• The risk of developing a postoperative, incisional hernia (breakdown or weakness of the abdominal wall muscles) is much lower.
• There is less postoperative pain. Many patients only take Tylenol (acetaminophen) after the operation. Very few patients need strong pain-killers.
• The patients can go home faster. The typical patient would spend less <23 hours in the hospital.
• The recovery is faster. You may return to work within days. You can start your hobbies, and exercises a lot faster, whether you engage in walking, running, biking, gym exercises, yoga, weight lifting, skiing, tennis, golf or any other work-outs.
• The cosmetic outcome is exceptional and superior to any other technique.
• There is no blood loss in this operation. Yes, it is true. Watch Dr. Carling’s surgical videos and you can see that there is no blood loss. There is less blood loss when Dr. Carling performs a scope adrenalectomy (PRA) compared to when you have your annual blood tests by your primary doctor. Dr. Carling has never, ever in his entire career had to order a blood transfusion.
• For patients requiring bilateral adrenalectomy, there is no moving, flipping and turning the patient around during the operation. This is better for the patients and the entire operating room staff.