Redefining Adrenal Surgery: Safer, Faster, More Personalized

By Tobias Carling, MD, PhD & Meredith LaRue, APRN

For decades, adrenal surgery meant big incisions, long hospital stays, and sometimes losing both adrenal glands—even when only one was diseased. That’s changing. Research led by Dr. Tobias Carling and the Carling Adrenal Center shows that adrenal surgery can now be done through small “keyhole” openings in the back, allowing patients to return home quickly, often the very next day.

What makes this approach revolutionary is the ability to remove just the tumor while preserving part of the healthy adrenal gland. This means many patients avoid needing lifelong steroid medications after surgery. Studies of more than 1,000 patients in just the past three years demonstrate that this technique is not only safe but also highly effective.

By combining cutting-edge imaging, genetic insights, and unmatched surgical experience, the team is personalizing adrenal surgery like never before. The result is better outcomes, fewer complications, and more patients cured of diseases such as Cushing’s syndrome, Conn’s syndrome, and pheochromocytoma—while keeping their natural hormone balance intact.