Adrenalectomy
What is Adrenalectomy?
An adrenalectomy is a surgical procedure to remove one or both adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys and produce hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and aldosterone. It’s typically performed to treat adrenal tumors, cancers, or hormonal overproduction disorders. In India, adrenalectomies are conducted in general surgery, urology, or endocrine surgery departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need Adrenalectomy?
Adrenalectomy is indicated for:
- Ad renal tumors:
- Pheochromocytoma (10% of adrenal tumors; causes high blood pressure, 1 in 1,000 cases).
- Adrenal cortical carcinoma (rare, 1–2 per million annually).
- Adenomas (benign, may overproduce hormones, 5–10% of CT scans show incidentalomas).
- Hormonal disorders:
- Cushing’s syndrome (excess cortisol; often from adenoma).
- Conn’s syndrome (excess aldosterone; causes hypertension, low potassium).
- Other conditions:
- Metastatic cancer to adrenal glands (e.g., from lung, breast).
- Bilateral adrenalectomy for ACTH-dependent Cushing’s (e.g., pituitary tumor unresponsive to treatment).
- Timing:
- Performed in adults or children, depending on diagnosis; urgency varies (e.g., immediate for malignant tumors).
The procedure aims to remove the affected gland(s), control hormonal imbalances, and treat or prevent cancer spread, often using minimally invasive techniques to reduce recovery time.
Why Do Adrenalectomy Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹1 lakh to ₹3.5 lakh :
- Procedure Type: Laparoscopic (₹1–2 lakh); open (₹1.5–3 lakh); robotic (₹2–3.5 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹1.5–3.5 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹50,000–₹1 lakh, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced endocrine surgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹10,000–₹20,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹15,000/day), hormone tests (₹5,000–₹10,000), medications (₹5,000–₹15,000).
- Insurance: Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider.
Adrenalectomy Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Assessment:
- Imaging: CT/MRI to locate tumor and assess size (e.g., >4 cm often indicates surgery).
- Blood/urine tests: Hormone levels (e.g., catecholamines for pheochromocytoma, cortisol for Cushing’s).
- Blood tests: Blood sugar, clotting profile; electrolyte balance.
- Preparation: Alpha-blockers (pheochromocytoma) for 7–14 days to control blood pressure; steroid replacement planned (bilateral adrenalectomy).
- Consent: Risks, including adrenal insufficiency, are explained.
- Assessment:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Adrenalectomy:
- Performed under general anesthesia, lasting 1–3 hours.
- Approaches:
- Laparoscopic adrenalectomy: Most common; 3–4 small incisions (5–10 mm) in abdomen; camera and instruments used to remove gland; used for benign tumors <6 cm.
- Open adrenalectomy: Larger incision (10–20 cm) in abdomen or back; for large tumors (>6 cm), cancer, or adhesions.
- Robotic adrenalectomy: Similar to laparoscopic but with robotic assistance; offers precision for complex cases.
- Process:
- Gland isolated; blood vessels clipped and divided.
- Tumor/gland removed; sent for biopsy.
- In bilateral cases, steroid replacement (hydrocortisone) started immediately.
- Closure: Sutures for laparoscopic (absorbable); sutures/staples for open; drains may be placed.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Laparoscope: Visualizes adrenal gland.
- Harmonic scalpel: Cuts and seals vessels.
- Endoscopic clips: Controls bleeding.
- Adrenalectomy:
- After Surgery:
- Hospital stay: 2–4 days (laparoscopic); 5–7 days (open).
- Care: Monitor blood pressure, hormone levels; steroids (if bilateral or risk of insufficiency).
- Pain management: Moderate pain for 3–5 days; managed with painkillers (e.g., paracetamol).
- Instructions: Avoid heavy lifting for 4–6 weeks; monitor for adrenal insufficiency symptoms (e.g., fatigue, low BP).
Recovery After Adrenalectomy
- Hospital Stay: 2–4 days (laparoscopic); 5–7 days (open).
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain/Swelling: Moderate pain for 3–5 days; swelling at incision site resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Activity: Avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks; light activities in 1–2 weeks.
- Incision: Laparoscopic scars (small, 5–10 mm) fade in 3–6 months; open scar (10–20 cm) fades in 6–12 months.
- Hormone management: Steroids (if bilateral) lifelong; taper dose for unilateral if remaining gland compensates.
- Monitoring: Blood pressure, electrolytes, and hormone levels checked at follow-ups.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week (check healing), 1 month, and 3 months.
- Hormone tests: At 1–3 months to assess adrenal function.
Most resume normal activities in 2–3 weeks (laparoscopic) or 4–6 weeks (open); full recovery takes 4–6 weeks (laparoscopic) or 6–8 weeks (open). Success rate: 95–98% for benign tumors; cancer outcomes depend on stage (5-year survival for adrenal cancer, 40–60%).
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Bleeding (2–5%): Hematoma near surgical site; may need reoperation.
- Infection (1–3%): At incision site; treated with antibiotics.
- Anesthesia risks (<1%): Reaction to general anesthesia; rare in healthy patients.
- Post-Surgery:
- Adrenal insufficiency (5–10%, unilateral; 100%, bilateral): Fatigue, low BP; managed with steroids.
- Injury to nearby organs (1–2%): Spleen, kidney, or liver; rare with experienced surgeons.
- Hypertension crisis (1–3%, pheochromocytoma): If pre-op blockade inadequate; managed intra-op.
- Seroma (1–3%): Fluid collection; may need aspiration.
- Long-Term:
- Recurrence (5–10%, cancer): Adrenal cortical carcinoma may return; needs monitoring.
- Hormonal imbalance (2–5%): If remaining gland underperforms; may need lifelong steroids.
Report fever, severe pain, low BP, or extreme fatigue promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes the need for adrenalectomy?
Adrenal tumors (benign or malignant), hormonal disorders (e.g., Cushing’s, Conn’s), or metastatic cancer.
Can I avoid adrenalectomy?
Yes, if small/non-functional: Monitor with imaging; surgery needed for symptomatic tumors, cancer, or large masses (>4 cm).
Is adrenalectomy painful?
Moderate pain for 3–5 days, managed with medication; discomfort subsides in 1–2 weeks.
How soon can I resume normal activities?
Light activities: 1–2 weeks (laparoscopic), 2–3 weeks (open); full recovery: 4–6 weeks (laparoscopic), 6–8 weeks (open).
Is adrenalectomy covered by insurance in India?
Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider; Ayushman Bharat often subsidizes.
Signs of complications?
Fever, severe pain, low BP, or extreme fatigue.
Will I need steroids after surgery?
Yes, if bilateral; possibly temporary for unilateral if remaining gland doesn’t compensate.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Monitor for adrenal insufficiency, avoid heavy lifting, take steroids (if prescribed), and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
Adrenalectomy is a safe and effective procedure to treat adrenal disorders, with high success rates for benign conditions and manageable recovery. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult an endocrine surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Adrenalectomy
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we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Ahmedabad |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Ajmer |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Aligarh |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Allahabad |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Amritsar |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Aurangabad |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Bangalore |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Bareilly |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Belgaum |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Bhopal |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Bikaner |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Chandigarh |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Chennai |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Coimbatore |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Dehradun |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Delhi |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Dhanbad |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Durgapur |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Faridabad |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Ghaziabad |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Gorakhpur |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Guntur |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Gurgaon |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Guwahati |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Gwalior |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Hyderabad |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Indore |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Jabalpur |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Jaipur |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Jalandhar |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Jamshedpur |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Jodhpur |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Kanpur |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Kochi |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Kolkata |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Kollam |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Lucknow |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Ludhiana |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Madurai |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Mangalore |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Meerut |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Moradabad |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Mumbai |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Mysore |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Nagpur |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Nashik |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Noida |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Patna |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Pune |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Raipur |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Rajkot |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Ranchi |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Surat |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Thane |
1,20,000 |
4,00,000 |
Vadodara |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Varanasi |
1,00,000 |
3,50,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
1,10,000 |
3,75,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.