[Minilaparotomy as an access route to vascular reconstruction procedures in the aortoiliac region]

Following the example of general surgical procedures, also vascular surgery gradually minimizes the size of its surgical entrances. Miniinvasive surgical procedures significantly reduce postoperative complaints and shorten the patients recovery rates. Minilaparotomy, either a hand-assisted or a laparoscopy-assisted procedure, a procedure conducted fully via laparoscopy or thoracoscopy and a robot-assisted procedure, all of the above are contemporary options for miniinvasive procedures in the vascular surgery. The authors introduce their initial experience with the use of minilaparotomy in the aortoiliac region. From November 2002 to April 2004, 29 procedures were performed for the abdominal aortic aneurysm repair or for aortoiliac occlusive disease. In 15 cases the abdominal aortic aneurysm was managed and in 14 cases the aortoiliac occlusive disease was managed.