Vascular Bypass Surgery
Creating a new pathway to restore blood flow past a blockage
What is it?
Vascular bypass surgery creates a new route for blood to flow around a blocked or diseased artery using a graft — either a vein taken from another part of the body (autologous) or a synthetic tube. It is used when less invasive approaches are not suitable.
Why is it done?
Used for severe PAD, critical limb ischemia, complex aortic disease, and when endovascular options have failed or are not anatomically suitable.
How is it performed?
An incision is made above and below the blockage. The graft (vessel or synthetic) is sewn above and below the obstruction, creating a new channel for blood flow. The procedure is done under general anesthesia.
What to Expect
- Complete cardiovascular evaluation
- Blood tests and imaging
- Stop smoking at least 2 weeks before
- General anesthesia
- Procedure lasts 3-6 hours depending on location
- Monitoring of blood flow during surgery
- ICU overnight
- Hospital stay 3-7 days
- Rehabilitation program
Recovery
Full recovery takes 6-8 weeks. Walking is encouraged from day 1. Heavy lifting restricted for 6 weeks.