Laparoscopic Aortorenal Bypass in an Acute Porcine Model under Warm Ischemia: Feasibility Study and Resident Training Module

ABSTRACT Background and Purpose: Laparoscopic aortorenal bypass (LARB) in a human being has never been reported. Both the skills required and the concern over preserving renal parenchyma by minimizing ischemia time has limited laparoscopic renal revascularization. The limit of safe renal warm ischemia is 30 minutes, which, it may be argued, is too short to permit laparoscopic anastomosis by those who have never performed the procedure. We sought to demonstrate the feasibility of LARB by determining whether it can be performed under warm ischemia and entirely by a resident after sufficient training. We describe our training program and experience with LARB. Materials and Methods: An LARB was performed in four pigs. There were no practice pigs, as data were collected on the first pig, which was intentionally euthanized postoperatively, while the remaining three were allowed to survive for 24 hours. All procedures were performed by a resident with limited previous training after a regimented program in a “dr...