Adrenal gland removal
Adrenalectomy; Removal of adrenal glandsAdrenal gland removal is an operation in which one or both adrenal glands are removed. The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system and are located just above the kidneys.
Adrenal glands
The adrenal glands are two small triangle-shaped glands in the upper abdomen. One gland is located on top of each kidney.

Description
You will receive general anesthesia that allows you to be asleep and pain free during surgery.
Adrenal gland removal can be performed in two ways. The type of surgery you have depends on the problem being treated.
- With open surgery, the surgeon makes one large surgical cut (incision) to remove the gland.
- With the laparoscopic technique, several small cuts are made.
Your surgeon will discuss which approach is better for you.
After the adrenal gland is removed, it is sent to a pathologist for examination under a microscope.
Why the Procedure Is Performed
The adrenal gland is removed when there is known cancer or a growth (mass) that might be cancer.
Sometimes, a mass in the adrenal gland is removed because it releases a hormone that can cause harmful side effects.
- One of the most common tumors is a pheochromocytoma, which can cause very high blood pressure
Pheochromocytoma
Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor of adrenal gland tissue that typically arises from the adrenal gland. It results in the release of too much epineph...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark ArticleHigh blood pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Other disorders include Cushing syndrome, Conn syndrome, and an adrenal mass of unknown cause
Cushing syndrome
Cushing syndrome is a disorder that occurs when your body has a high level of the hormone cortisol.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark ArticleConn syndrome
Hyperaldosteronism is a disorder in which the adrenal gland releases too much of the hormone aldosterone into the blood. Hyperaldosteronism can be pr...
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Risks
Risks for anesthesia and surgery in general include:
- Reaction to medicines
- Breathing problems
- Bleeding, blood clots, or infection
Blood clots
Blood clots are clumps that occur when blood hardens from a liquid to a solid. A blood clot that forms inside one of your veins or arteries is calle...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Nausea and vomiting
Risks for this surgery include:
- Damage to nearby organs in the body
- Wound that breaks open or bulging tissue through the incision (incisional hernia)
Hernia
A hernia is a sac formed by the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). The sac comes through a hole or weak area in the strong layer of the be...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Hormone changes, where the body may not produce enough hormones after surgery. This includes an acute adrenal crisis in which there is not enough cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands
Acute adrenal crisis
Acute adrenal crisis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when there is not enough cortisol. This is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands...
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Before the Procedure
Tell your surgeon or nurse if:
- You are or could be pregnant.
- You are taking any medicines, including drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription.
Planning for your surgery:
- If you have diabetes, heart disease, or other medical conditions, your surgeon may ask you to see the health care provider who treats you for these conditions.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark ArticleHeart disease
Coronary heart disease is a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is also called co...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - If you smoke, it's important to cut back or quit. Smoking can slow healing and increase the risk for blood clots. Ask your provider for help quitting smoking.
Smoking can slow healing and increase t...
Quitting smoking and other nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, before surgery can improve your recovery and outcome after surgery. Most people...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleQuitting smoking
There are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - If needed, prepare your home to make it easier to recover after surgery.
Prepare your home
Getting your home ready after you have been in the hospital often requires much preparation. Set up your home to make your life easier and safer when...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Ask your surgeon if you need to arrange to have someone drive you home after your surgery.
During the week before your surgery:
- You may be asked to temporarily stop taking medicines that keep your blood from clotting. These medicines are called blood thinners. This includes over-the-counter medicines and supplements such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and vitamin E. Many prescription medicines are also blood thinners.
- Ask your surgeon which medicines you should still take on the day of surgery.
- Let your surgeon know about any illness you may have before your surgery. This includes COVID-19, a cold, flu, fever, herpes breakout, or other illness. If you do get sick, your surgery may need to be postponed.
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that causes fever, coughing, and shortness of breath, but many other symptoms can occur....
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark ArticleCold
The common cold most often causes a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. You may also have a sore throat, cough, headache, or other symptoms....
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark ArticleFlu,
The flu (influenza) is a viral respiratory illness that causes fever, chills, runny nose, body aches, and cough. It spreads easily from person to pe...
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On the day of surgery:
- Follow instructions about when to stop eating and drinking.
- Take the medicines your surgeon told you to take with a small sip of water.
- Arrive at the hospital on time.
After the Procedure
While in the hospital, you may:
- Be asked to sit on the side of the bed and walk on the same day of your surgery
- Have a tube, or catheter, that comes from your bladder
- Have a drain that comes out through your surgical cut
- Not be able to eat the first 1 to 3 days, and then you will begin with liquids
- Be encouraged to do breathing exercises
- Wear special stockings to prevent blood clots
- Receive shots under your skin to prevent blood clots
- Receive pain medicine
- Have your blood pressure monitored and continue to receive blood pressure medicine
Most often, you will be discharged in 1 or 2 days after the surgery.
At home:
- Follow instructions on how to care for yourself as you recover.
- You can remove the dressing and shower the day after the surgery, unless your surgeon tells you otherwise.
- You may have some pain and may need to take medicine for pain.
- You can start doing some light activities.
Recovering from open surgery may be painful because of where the surgical cut is located. Recovery after a laparoscopic procedure is most often quicker.
Outlook (Prognosis)
People who undergo laparoscopic surgery mostly have faster recovery than with open surgery. How well you do after surgery depends on the reason for the surgery:
- If you had surgery for Conn syndrome, you may have to stay on blood pressure medicines.
- If you had surgery for Cushing syndrome, you are at risk for complications that may need to be treated. Your provider can tell you more about this.
- If you had surgery for pheochromocytoma, the outcome is usually good.
References
Lim SK, Rha KH. Surgery of the adrenal glands. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 107.
Miller BS, Doherty GM. Adrenal surgery. In: Robertson RP, ed. DeGroot's Endocrinology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 100.
Yeh MW, Livhits MJ, Duh QY. The adrenal glands. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 40.
Adrenal glands - illustration
The adrenal glands are triangular-shaped and located on top of the kidneys. They produce steroid hormones such as aldosterone, cortisol, and precursor sex steroids that can be converted into estrogen and testosterone. They also produce the hormones adrenalin (epinephrine) and noradrenalin (norepinephrine).
Adrenal glands
illustration
Adrenal glands - illustration
The adrenal glands are triangular-shaped and located on top of the kidneys. They produce steroid hormones such as aldosterone, cortisol, and precursor sex steroids that can be converted into estrogen and testosterone. They also produce the hormones adrenalin (epinephrine) and noradrenalin (norepinephrine).
Adrenal glands
illustration
Review Date: 1/21/2025
Reviewed By: Jonas DeMuro, MD, Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery with added Qualifications in Surgical Critical Care, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.