Home

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Erectile Dysfunction

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Doctor123.org

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Femoropopliteral Bypass Surgery Discharge Instructions


About this topic


The femoral and popliteal arteries are also known as peripheral arteries. They are found in your legs. These arteries can become narrowed or blocked. If this happens, you do not get good blood flow to your legs. The blockage is caused by a buildup of a sticky material called plaque. It can harden and make the blood vessel narrow. This may cause pain and other problems in your legs. ‚  
You may need to have arterial bypass surgery of your legs if you have: ‚  
  • Signs that keep you from doing your everyday tasks
  • Signs that do not get better with other treatment
  • Skin ulcers, sores, or wounds on your leg that do not heal
  • An infection or gangrene in your leg
  • Pain in your leg from your narrowed arteries, even when you are resting or at night


View OriginalView Original

What care is needed at home?


  • Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
  • Walk short distances 3 to 4 times a day. Slowly increase how far you walk each day.
  • Wear compression stockings as directed. This will help improve blood flow.
  • Do not sit for more than an hour at a time when you first come home from the hospital. If you are sitting in a chair, keep your legs raised above the level of your heart to prevent swelling. Prop your leg on pillows to help with swelling.
  • When you climb stairs, use your good leg first when you go up. Use your leg that had surgery first when you go down. Rest after taking a few steps.
  • Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
  • If your doctor tells you to use heat, put a heating pad on your sore area for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Never go to sleep with a heating pad on as this can cause burns.
  • Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
    • When you should change your bandages
    • When you may take a bath or shower
    • If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
    • When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving
  • Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing.

What follow-up care is needed?


  • Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
  • If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
  • Take all drugs that your doctor orders, especially for blood pressure or blood thinning. Follow the doctors instructions about getting blood tests and exams closely.

What lifestyle changes are needed?


  • Eat a healthy diet. Avoid fatty foods and cut back on your use of salt.
  • Avoid smoking, beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol).

What drugs may be needed?


The doctor may order drugs to: ‚  
  • Help with pain
  • Prevent infection
  • Prevent blood clots

Will physical activity be limited?


Your physical activity may be limited for a while. Talk with your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚  

What problems could happen?


  • Heart attack
  • Bleeding
  • Stroke
  • Infection
  • Blood clots
  • Loss of leg
  • Swelling of the leg
  • Blockage of the graft that was fixed

When do I need to call the doctor?


Activate the emergency medical system right away if you have signs of stroke. Call 911 in the United States or Canada. The sooner treatment begins, the better your chances for recovery. Call for emergency help right away if you have: ‚  
  • Signs of stroke:
    • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
    • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
    • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
    • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
    • Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Call your doctor if you have: ‚  
  • Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, wound that will not heal.
  • Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
  • Leg that had surgery changes color or becomes cool to touch, pale, or numb
  • Chest pain, dizziness, problems thinking clearly, or shortness of breath that does not go away when you rest
  • Belly hurts or is bloated
  • Leg swelling

Teach Back: Helping You Understand


The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚  
  • I can tell you about my procedure.
  • I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
  • I can tell you what I will do if I have signs of a stroke.
  • I can tell you what I will do if my leg changes color or becomes cool, pale, or numb.

Where can I learn more?


Circulation Foundation ‚  
http://www.circulationfoundation.org.uk/help-advice/peripheral-arterial-disease/femoropopliteal-femorodistal-bypass/ ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

Copyright


Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚  
Copyright © 2016 - 2017
Doctor123.org | Disclaimer