A comparison between minilaparotomy and standard median laparotomy for reconstruction of aorto-iliac occlusive disease.

Objective: Minimally invasive surgical procedures have become increasingly used in all surgical branches. In this respect we compared the minilaparotomy (ML) technique with standard median laparotomy (SML) for the surgical treatment of aorto-iliac occlusive disease.

Methods: 120 patients were included in this prospective study, with 60 patients in the minilaparotomy group and 60 patients in standard median laparotomy group. The two approaches were used within the same time period. Both groups were compared in terms of operating and aortic cross clamp time, the amount of blood transfusion, length of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital, and time for normalization of bowel functions.

Results: There were no significant differences in terms of the amount of blood transfusion, or aortic cross clamp time. The minilaparotomy approach has the advantages of less operating time, earlier return to a general diet, decreased length of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital and reduced cost.

Conclusions: As a conclusion, we believe that the minilaparotomy technique will be the standard treatment of choice for aorto-iliac occlusive disease in the future with reduced use of facilities and lower cost than the laparoscopic or the standard technique.