BackgroundTotally laparoscopic aortobifemoral bypass (LABF) procedure has been shown to be feasible for the treatment of advanced aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). This study compares the LABF with the open aortobifemoral bypass (OABF) operation.MethodsIn this prospective comparative cohort study, 50 consecutive patients with type D atherosclerotic lesions in the aortoiliac segment were treated with an LABF operation. The group was compared with 30 patients who were operated on with the OABF procedure for the same disease and time period. We had an explanatory strategy, and our research hypothesis was to compare the two surgical procedures based on a composite event (all-cause mortality, graft occlusion, and systemic morbidity). Stratification analysis was performed by using the Mantel–Haenszel method with the patient–time model. Cox multivariate regression method was used to adjust for confounding effect after considering the proportional hazard assumption. Cox proportional cause-specific hazard regression model was used for competing risk endpoint.ResultsThere was a higher frequency of comorbidity in the OABF group. A significant reduction of composite event, 82% (hazard ratio 0.18; 95% CI 0.08–0.42, P=0.0001) was found in the LABF group when compared with OABF group, during a median follow-up time period of 4.12 years (range from 1 day to 9.32 years). In addition, less operative bleeding and shorter length of hospital stay were observed in the LABF group when compared with the OABF group. All components of the composite event showed the same positive effect in favor of LABF procedure.ConclusionLABF for the treatment of AIOD, Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus II type D lesions, seems to result in a less composite event when compared with the OABF procedure. To conclude, our results need to be replicated by a randomized clinical trial.

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PurposeMinimally invasive surgical techniques have been shown to reduce the inflammatory response related to a surgical procedure. The main objective of our study was to measure the inflammatory response in patients undergoing a totally laparoscopic versus open aortobifemoral bypass surgery. This is the first randomized trial on subjects in this population.Patients and methodsThis is a substudy of a larger randomized controlled multicenter trial (Norwegian Laparoscopic Aortic Surgery Trial). Thirty consecutive patients with severe aortoiliac occlusive disease eligible for aortobifemoral bypass surgery were randomized to either a totally laparoscopic (n=14) or an open surgical procedure (n=16). The inflammatory response was measured by perioperative monitoring of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and C-reactive protein (CRP) at six different time points.ResultsThe inflammatory reaction caused by the laparoscopic procedure was reduced compared with open surgery. IL-6 was significantly lower after the laparoscopic procedure, measured by comparing area under the curve (AUC), and after adjusting for the confounding effect of coronary heart disease (P=0.010). The differences in serum levels of IL-8 and CRP did not reach statistical significance.ConclusionIn this substudy of a randomized controlled trial comparing laparoscopic and open aortobifemoral bypass surgeries, we found a decreased perioperative inflammatory response after the laparoscopic procedure measured by comparing AUC for serum IL-6.

Purpose Physiological tests may aid in diagnosing median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS). MALS is a symptomatic compression of the celiac artery causing symptoms similar to chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) of atherosclerotic etiology. Simultaneous use of visible light spectroscopy (VLS) and laser doppler flowmetry (LDF) during upper endoscopy may detect microcirculatory changes in these patients. Patients and Methods In a single-center, prospective comparative cohort, 25 patients were evaluated for MALS. Patients with a consensus diagnosis of MALS (n=15) underwent a gastroscopy assisted, transmucosal microcirculatory assessment with LDF and VLS. Results were compared to individuals with normal intestinal circulation (n=38) evaluated with duplex ultrasonography, and to patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia (n=32). Treatment response was evaluated clinically at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and with ultrasound, VLS and LDF at three months. Health-related quality of life (QoL) was assessed with Euroqol (EQ-5D-5L), preoperatively, and 12 months postoperatively. Results Preoperative mean transmucosal oxygen saturation was significantly lower in patients with MALS (SO 2 76±6), as compared to healthy individuals (SO 2 81±4), p=0.02. An overall significant improvement in SO 2 after surgical decompression of the celiac artery was found (SO 2 81±3.7, p=0.05). Eleven (92%) patients with clinical improvement after laparoscopic decompression had a definitive diagnosis of MALS. Median follow-up was 18 months (4–24 months). Four of the five dimensions investigated with EQ-5D-5L improved. Conclusion VLS detected a significantly lower baseline transmucosal SO 2 in patients with MALS as compared to control subjects with normal intestinal circulation. An improvement in SO 2 after laparoscopic decompression was found, supporting a possible ischemic etiology in our patient population.

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