Background: The goal of this acute experimental study was to demonstrate the practicability and reproducibility of aortobifemoral bifurcational prosthesis implantations via either a transperitoneal or extraperitoneal approach using gasless videoendoscopic instrumentation. The endoscopically sutured end-to-side aortic anastomoses were also examined for fluid tightness.
Methods: Eighteen of the 20 domestic pigs in this experimental study received aortobifemoral vascular prostheses in a gasless videoendoscopic procedure. Bursting pressures and leakage (ml/min) were compared for the endoscopically sutured aortic end-to-side anastomoses versus those sutured in conventional techniques using 6-h-old porcine aortas and 6-mm prostheses.
Results: The surgical procedures averaged 4 h for the transperitoneal approach (n = 9) and 4.5 h for the extraperitoneal approach (n = 9). However, these times were significantly reduced with increasing routine. Average aortic occlusion times were 1 h for the transperitoneal approach and 1 h 15 min for the extraperitoneal approach; the average iliacofemoral occlusion time ranged from 1 h 45 min with the transperitoneal approach to 1 h 15 min with the extra-peritoneal approach, depending on which side was involved: There were no significant differences in in vitro bursting pressure or leakage amounts between endoscopic and conventionally sutured aortic end-to-side anastomoses.
Conclusions: Gasless videoendoscopic implantation of aortobifemoral vascular prostheses in animal subjects is both practicable and reproducible using either a transperitoneal or extraperitoneal approach. The extraperitoneal approach has proven advantages over the transperitoneal approach. The in vitro fluid tightness achieved with endoscopically sutured aortic end-to-side anastomoses is comparable to conventionally sutured anastomoses.