VIDEO-ASSISTED AORTOFEMORAL BYPASS - RESULTS IN 7 CASES

Between September 1995 and February 1996 we attempted to perform video -assisted aortofemoral bypass in nine patients. All patients were male with a mean age of 58.7 years, mean weight of 64.7 kg, and mean heigh t of 1.69 m. In two patients it was necessary to switch to open laparo tomy due to inadequate aortic exposure in one and extensive aortic cal cification in the other. Aortobifemoral bypass was performed by the tr ansperitoneal approach in three patients and unilateral aortofemoral b ypass by the retroperitoneal approach in four patients. Exposure was m ore difficult by the transperitoneal approach. Postoperative graft pat ency was excellent in all patients. Video-assisted surgery did not sho rten the delay to resumption of intestinal transit but it did reduce t he duration of hospitalization and need for postoperative analgesia. O ur experience suggests that video-assisted aortofemoral bypass without laparotomy can be performed and that it allows more rapid patient rec overy.