ABSTRACT
This chapter presents common complications and preventive methods. The adrenal gland is responsible for a diverse set of endocrine and exocrine functions. Lung, breast, and renal cell carcinomas often metastasize to the adrenal glands. Because of the different anatomic relationships of the right and left adrenal glands, the technique of adrenalectomy and the structures that can be injured differ, depending on which gland is being addressed surgically. The left adrenal gland sits atop the left kidney posterior to the stomach and pancreas and lateral to the aorta and the left crus of the diaphragm. Exposure of the left adrenal gland requires entry into the lesser sac by division of the gastrocolic omentum, mobilization and cephalad retraction of the pancreatic body, and, occasionally, mobilization and medial rotation of the spleen and distal pancreas. The thoracoabdominal approach provides the best exposure of the adrenal gland.
