OBJECTIVETo summarize experiences of aortoiliac reconstruction through retroperitoneal approach.

METHODSTwenty-eight patients underwent retroperitoneal aortoiliac reconstructions, including aortic aneurysmectomy with graft replacement, aortic endarterectomy with patch angioplasty, thoraco-abdominal aortic bypass, resection of retroperitoneal mass with ilio-femoral bypass, iliac aneurysmectomy with aorto-external iliac artery bypass, removal of aortoiliac foreign body, common iliac endarterectomy, aorto (ilio)-femeral bypass and common ilio-femo-popliteal bypass. Drainage tubes were placed retroperitoneally in 24 cases.

RESULTSAll operations in this group were successful without perioperative death. The volume of intra-operative bleeding was 100-400 ml (mean 240 ml). Blood transfusion were employed in 2 cases. Retroperitoneal drainage was 50-170 ml (mean 85 ml). Naso-gastric tubes were removed 28 h on average after operation. All patients recovered uneventfully except that cardiac insufficiency, stress ulcer and retroperitoneal hematoma were present in 3 patients respectively. Twenty-two patients were followed up from 3 months to 2.5 years. One patient died of AMI 2 years after operation. One patient receiving ilio-femo-popliteal bypass was found to have occlusion of femo-popliteal segment of prosthetic graft. One patient developed brain hemorrhage 1.5 years postoperatively. All the other followed-up patients were living well.

CONCLUSIONRetroperitoneal approach, not violating the peritoneal cavity, offers certain physiological advantages associated with minimal disturbance of gastrointestinal and respiratory function, thereby decreasing respiratory complications and postoperative ileus, avoiding intra-abdominal adhesions with their attendant risk of early and late small bowel obstruction. It proved to be a simple and safe alternative for surgical treatment of aortoiliac diseases.