Peripheral Arterial Bypass
If one of your arteries becomes too narrow or blocked to allow blood to flow through, you may need a peripheral arterial bypass. The expert team at American Vascular Specialists in Mesa, Arizona, performs various types of peripheral arterial bypass surgery, including aortic and lower extremity bypasses. If you think you may need peripheral arterial bypass surgery, call or book an appointment online today.
Peripheral Arterial Bypass Q & A
What is a peripheral arterial bypass?
Peripheral arterial bypass surgery redirects blood flow around an artery that has become obstructed by fatty deposits called plaques. The buildup of these plaques in your arteries leads to peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
An arterial bypass doesn’t cure PAD or get rid of the blockage in your artery. The team at American Vascular Specialists uses this procedure to create an alternate way for your blood to reach your extremities. This procedure acts like a traffic detour for your blood.
When would I need a peripheral arterial bypass?
The team at American Vascular Specialists only considers bypass surgery after you’ve tried conservative treatments for PAD, such as exercise and quitting smoking. If you continue to experience PAD symptoms, such as severe leg pain and wounds that won’t heal, surgical treatment may be necessary.
Before recommending bypass surgery, the team at American Vascular Specialists evaluates you for other minimally invasive endovascular treatments. These alternatives could include a balloon angioplasty or the placement of stents.
If your blockage is too significant for a minimally invasive procedure, you may need a peripheral arterial bypass.
What does peripheral arterial bypass surgery entail?
Your American Vascular Specialists surgeon carefully reviews your condition and develops a personalized plan for your peripheral arterial bypass.
Before the procedure, you receive anesthesia, so you don’t feel any pain. Your American Vascular Specialists surgeon makes an incision over the blocked section of your artery. They clamp off your artery and then attach a graft to each end of the blockage.
The graft may come from another one of your blood vessels, or it may be a plastic tube. Before they close your incision, your surgeon makes sure that blood flows through the graft. Depending on your specific situation, bypass surgery can take 1.5-6 hours.
What is the recovery like after a peripheral arterial bypass?
Most people spend 2-7 days in the hospital after bypass surgery. Depending on your condition, you may need to go to a rehabilitation facility afterward or have someone help you out at home while you recover. The majority of patients take a few weeks off from work following bypass surgery.
To learn more about peripheral arterial bypass surgery, call American Vascular Specialists, or book an appointment online today.