Femoral-Tibial Bypass Surgery for Peripheral Arterial Disease

Femoral-tibial bypass surgery (also known as infra-popliteal reconstruction) is used to bypass diseased blood vessels in the lower leg or foot.

To bypass the blocked blood vessel, blood is redirected through a healthy blood vessel that has been transplanted or through a man-made graft material. This vessel or graft is sewn above and below the diseased artery so that blood flows through the new vessel or graft. Before surgery, the doctor determines what type of material is best suited to bypass the blood vessel.

Whenever possible, the surgeon will choose to use an existing piece of vein taken from either leg. Man-made graft materials (such as polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE] or Dacron) are more likely to become narrowed again. But they may still be effective and are used when a vein is not available.

The section of vein or man-made blood vessel is sewn onto the small vessels of the lower leg or foot so that blood can travel through the new graft vessel and around the existing blockage(s). See a picture of a Reference femoral-tibial bypass Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window.

General anesthesia or an injection in the spine (epidural) is used for this surgery. General anesthesia will cause you to sleep through the procedure. An epidural prevents pain in the lower part of the body.

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