Retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy versus transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To compare the efficacy and safety of retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (RLA) vs. transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (TLA) for pheochromocytoma (PHEO).

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RLA versus TLA for PHEO.

A systematic research of PubMed, Ovid, Scopus (up to June 2022), and citation lists was performed for all comparative eligible studies of RLA versus TLA for PHEO. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4.

Overall, six studies including 597 patients (RLA 243; TLA 354) were included. RLA was associated with lower BMI compared to TLA (WMD = -0.81 kg/m, 95% CI: -1.53 to -0.10; p = 0.03). RLA was associated with smaller tumor size (WMD = -0.90 cm, 95% CI: -1.59 to -0.20; p = 0.01). RLA was associated with shorter operative time (WMD = -34.58 min, 95% CI: -40.80 to -28.36; p < 0.001), lower EBL (WMD = -107.91 ml, 95% CI: -145.09, -70.74; p < 0.001), and a slightly higher HI rate (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.03 to 2.29; p = 0.03). There were no statistically significant differences for complications (p = 0.71) and Clavien-Dindo score ≥ 3 complications (p = 0.19) for RLA compared to TLA. RLA was associated with shorter length of hospital stay (WMD = -1.94 days, 95% CI: -2.60 to -1.29; p < 0.001).

For selected PHEO patients, RLA has advantages in terms of operative time, EBL, and length of hospital stay, but the HI rate is higher. Since the lower BMI and smaller tumor size of RLA reduced the difficulty of surgery, these results need to be confirmed by further studies.