Ascending aorta to femoral arteries bypass without opening the abdominal cavity. Choice treatment in cases of complete occlusion of the infrarenal aorta.

In two cases which needed a revascularization of the inferior limbs, it was possible to utilize the subrenal aorta (the first case was affected by an infrarenal aortic occlusion; the second by an infection of a previously inserted aortofemoral graft), the AA. elected to perform a bypass with a dacron graft between the ascending aorta and femoral arteries according to the technique already proposed by Kaplitt. Having accomplished the proximal anastomoses to the ascending aorta through a midsternal incision, the graft was placed into a properitoneal tunnel down to both inguinal regions. This tunnel was obtained in the anterior abdominal wall by a blind blunt dissection entering the properitoneal space at the inferior end of the sternal incision. In this way the opening of the abdomen is avoided. On account of its poor risk, this procedure is advisable not only in cases of infrarenal aortic occlusion but almost in all aged and poor risk patients who require a revascularization of the inferior limbs.