[Pituitary and adrenal gland surgery].

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy and transsphenoidal pituitary surgery are currently established as the surgical procedures of choice with a low complication rate. Beyond potential surgical complications, one has to consider endocrine sequelae such as adrenal insufficiency and hypopituitarism. Without adequate endocrine treatment patients are prone to develop potentially lethal complications such as Addisonian crises or pituitary coma. Therefore, all patients should be seen by an endocrinologist before and after surgery. Patients with bilateral adrenalectomy require lifelong substitution of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. Cushing's syndrome patients with unilateral adrenalectomy need temporary substitution. After pituitary surgery, all patients require functional assessment of their pituitary function, and, if necessary, adequate replacement therapy.