Blood vessels called arteries carry blood from the heart to the body, while veins carry blood from the body back to the heart. Sometimes fatty deposits called plaque can build up in the arteries, causing them to narrow or harden. When an artery is blocked or becomes narrow, blood flow is restricted and can cause health problems such as peripheral artery disease, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Bypass surgery can treat this condition. Our expert team offers state-of-the-art procedures and techniques.
What is vascular bypass surgery?
A surgical bypass is a procedure that helps restore blood flow in a blocked artery by creating a detour—or bypass—around the blockage. To create the bypass, a vascular surgeon removes a vein from another part of the body to use as the bypass graft. The surgeon makes a cut in the skin over the blocked artery and connects the graft above and below the blockage.
What to expect
During bypass surgery, you receive either general anesthesia or local anesthesia. During general anesthesia, you are asleep during the procedure. Local anesthesia numbs only the area of the body the surgeon will work on.
Recovery after vascular bypass surgery
Most people stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days after bypass surgery. We usually remove stitches several weeks later. Your recovery time will vary depending on your health and the type of surgery you have.