Why is this procedure done?
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
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What will the results be?
- Improve blood flow to your legs
- Help ease leg pain caused by a narrowed artery
- Prevent need for leg removal
- Better healing wounds or no wounds on the legs and feet
What happens before the procedure?
- Your doctor will take your history. Talk to your doctor about:
- All the drugs you are taking. Be sure to include all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and herbal supplements. Tell the doctor about any drug allergy. Bring a list of drugs you take with you.
- Any bleeding problems. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any drugs that may cause bleeding. Some of these are Coumadin ‚ ®, ibuprofen, Aleve ‚ ® (naproxen), or aspirin. Certain vitamins and herbs, such as garlic and fish oil, may also add to the risk for bleeding. You may need to stop these drugs as well. Talk to your doctor about them.
- When you need to stop eating or drinking before your procedure.
- The doctor will talk to you about stopping smoking if you are a smoker.
- Your doctor will do an exam and may order:
- Lab tests
- X-rays
- Doppler ultrasound exams of your leg
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Arteriograms (special x-rays of the blood vessels in your leg)
- You will not be allowed to drive right away after the procedure. Ask a family member or a friend to drive you home.
What happens during the procedure?
- Once you are in the operating room, the staff will put an I.V. in your arm to give you fluids and drugs. You will be given a drug to make you sleepy. It will also help you stay pain free during the surgery.
- When you are asleep, the doctors put a tube in your mouth to help you breathe.
- Your doctor will make small cuts on the skin of your leg. Your doctor will take a healthy vein out and use it to bypass the artery that is blocked or narrow. Sometimes, the doctor uses a tube graft that is made from special fabric for the bypass. Your doctor may choose the fabric graft if you have had varicose vein surgery in the past.
- Your doctor will make a cut over the blocked artery. The tissue will be gently moved out of the way so the doctor can see the artery. The doctor will place clamps at the ends of the diseased section and take it out.
- The healthy vein or graft will be stitched in its place. Your doctor will allow blood to pass in the graft. Your doctor will check for leaks and fix them.
- Your doctor will allow blood to pass through the graft to your lower leg.
- When the grafts are in place, your doctor will close your cut with stitches or staples and cover it with clean bandages.
- The procedure takes 1 to 4 hours.
What happens after the procedure?
- You will go to the Recovery Room or an Intensive Care Unit after surgery.
- The staff will watch you closely. You may have machines and tubes connected to you including a heart monitor.
- Your doctor will order pain drugs for you after the surgery.
- The staff will place an ice pack wrapped in a towel over your leg. This will help with pain and swelling.
- You will get out of bed to a chair within 24 hours of your surgery. The staff will help you start to walk around. Doing coughing and deep breathing exercises will help keep your lungs clear. You will get drugs through your I.V. to help with your pain.
- When you are allowed out of bed and are sitting in a chair, keep your legs raised on a stool so that the blood flows more easily to your lower legs and back to the heart.
- You may wear a boot or special stockings to help prevent blood clots.
- You may need to stay at the hospital for 4 to 7 days. Your doctors will give you more instructions. Be sure to follow their advice.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent infection
- Prevent blood clots
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
- Legs are swelling
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. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚