ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize experiences of aortoiliac reconstruction through retroperitoneal approach.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-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.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All 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.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Retroperitoneal 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.</p>