Total laparoscopic aortofemoral bypass as a routine procedure for the treatment of aortoiliac occlusive disease.

The purpose of our study was to evaluate whether total laparoscopic aortofemoral bypass can be performed routinely in patients who require surgical intervention for aortoiliac occlusive disease. In a prospective study, 68 consecutive patients underwent total laparoscopic aortofemoral bypass between 2002 and 2004. Among these patients, there were 50 men and 18 women, with a mean age of 68.4 +/- 9 years. The mean operating time was 199 minutes, with a mean aortic cross-clamp time of 85.8 minutes. There were five major complications (7.3%). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.3 days. Most of the younger patients could be discharged on the third or fourth postoperative day. Our results show that total laparoscopic aortic surgery can be offered as a routine procedure to the majority of patients with long-segment aortoiliac occlusive disease.