Bypass surgery creates a new route for blood flow around a blockage in a blood vessel.
You may need this type of surgery if you have moderate to severe peripheral artery disease (PAD) and:
A vascular surgeon performs arterial bypass surgery in the hospital.
You will receive general anesthesia so you won’t feel any pain during the surgery.
To create the bypass, your surgeon will:
Surgery may take anywhere between 2 and 6 hours, based on:
Most people will spend 3 to 7 days in the hospital after surgery.
After arterial bypass surgery, you can expect the incision sites to:
Your vascular surgeon will give you details on how to care for your incision site at home. He or she will also let you know when you can get back to your normal activities.
You’ll also need follow-up visits with your surgeon to check on the graft and make sure it's working properly.
To make an appointment with a UPMC vascular surgeon:
Follow the beat for a healthier life. Read our blog post to learn when leg pain could warn of vascular problems, such as PAD.