Peripheral Bypass Surgery

Peripheral bypass surgery is a treatment for peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the limbs. It involves taking a blood vessel from another limb and creating a new path to carry blood around a blocked artery. Peripheral artery bypass surgery and femoral popliteal bypass are other names for this procedure.

Why peripheral bypass surgery is performed

In PAD, hardening of the arteries – or atherosclerosis – can block the arteries that supply blood to the limbs. This can result in tissue death. Doctors perform peripheral bypass surgery to restore blood flow to a limb, most commonly the leg. 

In general, doctors may consider peripheral bypass surgery to treat:

• Infections or wounds in a limb that won’t heal due to poor blood flow
• PAD symptoms that don’t respond to medicines, other surgical procedures, or other treatments 
• Symptoms such as pain that interfere with your ability to perform routine tasks

What to expect

Vascular surgeons perform peripheral bypass surgery in a hospital. You will receive general anesthesia or a regional nerve block. The choice depends on the exact artery needing treatment. After the procedure, you will wake up in a recovery area. The procedure usually requires a hospital stay of 1 to 2 days either in a regular hospital room or an intensive care unit.
Peripheral bypass surgery carries certain risks, including excessive bleeding, post-operative blood clots, and pain. You should discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure with your doctor. You also should ask about any ways you can reduce your risk of complications.

Recovery after peripheral bypass surgery

Before you go home, you will receive instructions about activities, medications, and follow-up appointments. You may need to keep the affected limb elevated and limit how much you walk. Your care team will make sure you understand what to do. You should report any unusual symptoms immediately. This includes sudden swelling of the limb, numbness or coolness in the limb, difficulty breathing, or fever.

Peripheral bypass surgery can reduce or eliminate any pain you were experiencing. It can also make it easier to perform everyday activities. Your tissues should be healthier and less prone to infection due to the increased flow of oxygenated blood.