Postoperative care after laparoscopic adrenal surgery

Where will I wake up? Immediately after the operation you will be taken to Recovery area where you will remain for 1-2 hours until it is safe to return to the ward.

Diet. You will be allowed to drink fluids as soon as you are awake enough. Dinner might not be tolerated but certainly you will have breakfast the following morning.

Mobility. You will be encouraged to mobilise on the evening of the operation. It is expected you will be able to go to toilet without help and be able to move around the room.

Pain control. Simple painkillers should suffice for most cases (paracetamol, ibuprofen, codeine).

Expected admission. Your preoperative physical status, the extent of the operation and the indication for operation will impact on the length of your admission. Patients with small Conn’s adenoma are expected to be discharged within 24 hours. After excision of a phaeochromocytoma you might remain in hospital for 3-4 days to ensure the control of blood pressure is satisfactory.

Follow-up. An appointment will be made within 2-6 weeks to ensure you made a full recovery and to discuss the results of laboratory analysis of the tumour and to decide if any further tests are necessary in the future (e.g. repeat blood tests and/or scans).