OBJECTIVE: To verify the feasibility of the aortofemoral laparoscopic bypass. METHOD: We operated on a 75-kg pig under general anesthesia. The aorta was exposed using Dion's "apron" technique. Briefly, the animal was placed in supine position and the parietal peritoneum was dissected away from the left of the midline. The dissection proceeded with medial rotation of the left colon. This constructed apron (parietal peritoneum, left colon and mesocolon, in continuity) was sutured to the midline. It served to keep the sliding bowel away from the operative field. After clamping the aorta, we performed an aortofemoral bypass with a totally laparoscopic abdominal time. RESULT: The bypass was successfully performed, and the blood flow through the prosthesis was considered adequate when verified at the femoral incision. CONCLUSION: The experimental laparoscopic aortofemoral bypass is feasible using the apron exposure technique.
surgery; laparoscopy; video-assisted surgery; aorta
