title: [Laparoscopic aortic surgery].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic aortic surgery (LAS), performed since 1993, has undergone a number of technical improvements during recent years. The published results are comparable with those for open surgery. The aim of this article is to present the method with a focus on technical details, and at the same time present our experience with this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients with debilitating intermittent claudication were operated with a total laparoscopic aortofemoral bypass. Operations were performed through a transperitoneal retrorenal approach. Median age of the patients was 61 years (range 51-76). All patients had an aortoiliac occlusive disease of type D according to the Transatlantic Inter Society Consensus (TASC). Prior to the procedures an operation team followed a structured training programme that comprised using a training model and operating on pigs, and visited an international referral centre.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All operations were successfully performed. No patient developed per- or post-operative complications. Median post-operative hospital stay was four days. LAS is a technically demanding procedure and it can be established through well targeted and carefully planned training.
authors.affiliation: Oslo vaskulaere senter, Aker universitetssykehus, 0514 Oslo. s.s.h.kazmi@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Syed Sajid Hussain
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kazmi
authors.forename: Jon Otto
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Sundhagen
authors.forename: Tor Leif
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Flørenes
authors.forename: Andries Jan
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kroese
authors.forename: Jørgen Junkichi
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D002983:Clinical Competence; D000075202:Contraindications; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000601:surgery; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000601:surgery; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013552:Swine; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*