Introduction: Despite the fact that the transperitoneal approach (TP) is most widely accepted approach to the aortic surgery because it is simple, fast, and provides good exposure of the abdominal cavity and vascular structures, lately have been increasingly advocated as an alternative retroperitoneal (RP) approach in order to avoid entering peritoneal sac, achieving lower physiological trauma and faster establishment of gastrointestinal function.
Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the basic peri and postoperative results of TP and RP approaches in the surgical treatment of AIOD.
Patients and methods: The study included 114 patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) that underwent surgical treatment at the Department of Vascular Surgery, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo from January 2010 until December 2012 year. In view of the surgical technique used subjects were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of 57 patients on who had been used RP approach, and group B 57 subjects with TP used approach.
Results: In patients from group A were observed significantly lower values: the length of operation (201.66 +/- 43.9 minute vs. 267.36 +/- 47.57 min, p < 0.001), amount of postoperative drainage (56.14 +/- 55.5 ml versus 130.71 +/- 92.34 ml, p < 0.001), length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) (1.10 +/- 0.36 days versus 2.46 +/- 1.25 days, p < 0.001), time required for the restoration of gastrointestinal motility (4.38 +/- 5.59 versus 1.05 days +/- 1.19 days, p < 0.001), length of hospitalization (9.26 +/- 1, 95 +/- 11 days versus 1.96 days, p < 0.001), costs of hospitalization (2394.98 +/- BAM 346.67 versus 2933.72 +/- 428.10 BAM, p < 0.001). Analysis of the incidence of postoperative complications (8 vs. 7 complication complications, p > 0.05) and mortality (3 versus 3, p > 0.05) showed no statistically significant difference between the analyzed groups.
Conclusion: RP approach in vascular reconstructive surgery in AIOD offers better postoperative results when compared to TP approach.