Research published by a Hackensack University Medical Center urologist in the medical journal Current Urology Reports shows that a minimally invasive procedure to remove just part of an adrenal gland may spare patients difficult side effects that might occur from the loss of the entire gland.

In “Adrenal-Preserving Minimally Invasive Surgery: Update on the Current Status of Laparoscopic Partial Adrenalectomy,” Ravi Munver, M.D., chief of minimally invasive urologic surgery, investigates the benefits of using a minimally invasive procedure called laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy to remove malignant and benign tumors of the adrenal glands. In recent years, the procedure has become a standard management option for treating hormonally active adrenal masses.

“For patients who require that both adrenal glands be treated, preserving part of the gland instead of removing the entire gland can spare patients the life-long need to take hormonal medications and can reduce their risk of developing osteoporosis, Addison’s disease, and other medical conditions,” says Dr. Munver, who is also director of the Department of Urology’s endourology, laparoscopy, and robotic surgery fellowship program and a member of the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center.

The adrenal glands sit on the top of the kidneys. They secrete hormones directly into the blood stream. These hormones have important effects on the body’s metabolism, on chemicals in the blood, and on characteristics such as hairiness or body shape. They are also part of the body’s first defense against physical and emotional stress.

After writing about laparoscopic techniques for partial removal of the adrenal glands, Dr. Munver concludes with the recommendation that minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery is safe and is equivalent in its effectiveness to removing the entire gland during a traditional ëopen’ procedure.

“Laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy results in less pain, blood loss, and hospitalization time for the patient,” he says. “Adrenal-sparing procedures can improve patients’ quality of life and reduce long-term complications.”

Dr. Munver and other urologists at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center utilize the most advanced technology available today to treat all types of urologic cancers, including those of the prostate, kidney, bladder, urethra, testes, and male genitalia.

“Our urologists are internationally recognized for their expertise in utilizing state-of-the-art techniques — including robotic and laparoscopic minimally invasive procedures — to provide optimal treatment options for patients,” says Andrew L. Pecora, M.D., chairman and executive administrative director of the John Theurer Cancer Center. “They have exceeded national standards in the use of robotics to treat prostate and bladder cancers.”