Vascular Surgery

Laparoscopic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Mr Adam Howard and Mr. Chris Backhouse have pioneered laparoscopic aortic surgery at the ICENI centre. Over 20 laparoscopic aortic procedures have been undertaken and the first UK hands on laparoscopic aortic aneurysm workshop was conducted in December 2009.

Mr Adam Howard and Mr. Chris Backhouse have established laparoscopic aortic surgery at the ICENI centre. Over 25 laparoscopic aortic aneurysm procedures have successfully been undertaken. The first UK 'hands on' laparoscopic aortic aneurysm and bypass course for surgeons, anaesthetists and scrub nurses was conducted in December 2009 and now runs on a yearly basis.

Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust is one of a small group of specialist laparoscopic hospitals in the UK and one of approximately twenty worldwide that can provide a minimally invasive laparoscopic repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Laparoscopic aortic surgery has been performed in the UK (Mr David Knott, London), Europe and North America for over 15 years. Since August 2007 it was granted NICE approval in the UK. The minimally invasive surgery employs the laparoscopic approach to carry out the more traditional 'open aneurysm repair' without the need for a large incision. Hence, this procedure provides a rapid recovery with the advantage of using the traditional more durable Dacron graft sutured in place as with open surgery. Unlike the stent-grafts used in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), the laparoscopic repair removes the aneurysm and does not need the lifelong surveillance required for the EVAR stent-graft. This approach offers considerable advantages for the younger and/or fitter patients with AAA; for example, those coming from the national aortic aneurysm screening programme at the age of 65 years.

Since November 2007, Mr Adam Howard and Mr Christopher Backhouse with the help of Professor Marc Coggia from Hôpital Ambroise in Paris, have successfully performed over 25 laparoscopic AAA repairs. In November 2008, the first live televised laparoscopic AAA repair in the UK, was performed by Mr Adam Howard, Professor Marc Coggia and Mr Chris Backhouse at Colchester, which was watched by 280 laparoscopic surgeons at the Annual meeting for the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. A second televised total laparoscopic aneurysm repair was performed at the ICENI Centre Course 'An Introduction to Laparoscopic Abdominal Aortic Surgery' in December 2009.

The Colchester ICENI Centre plans to become one of the leading centres for laparoscopic aortic surgery, the laparoscopic aortic courses will continue on a yearly basis and a specialist laparoscopic vascular and endovascular fellow post has been created for vascular registrar trainees.