Totally laparoscopic aortobifemoral bypass: a review of 10 patients.

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of totally laparoscopic aortobifemoral bypass for occlusive aortoiliac disease. Ten patients who had incapacitating claudication have been included to date in this investigation. We have designed a transabdominal retroperitoneal technique that allows performance of the procedure without the problems associated with retraction of intraperitoneal organs. During the study, surgery time decreased from 510 to 245 min. Mean total aortic clamping time was 121 min, and the mean time required to perform the aortic anastomosis was 66 min. Mean blood loss was 820 ml. Three patients needed conversion. Postoperative complications developed in three patients. One had an aortoureteral fistula, which needed reoperation; one experienced complications related to a retroaortic left renal vein; and the third had a mild compartment syndrome of the right leg. Totally laparoscopic aortobifemoral bypass is feasible. Laparoscopic aortobifemoral bypass appears to ease the patient's postoperative course and could become in the not so distant future part of the repertoire of the surgeon performing vascular surgery.