Femoral-tibial bypass surgery

Blocked artery and position of graft in femoral-tibial bypass surgery.

A femoral-tibial bypass is used to bypass a narrowed or blocked artery in the leg. The bypass improves blood flow to the lower leg and foot.

To bypass a narrowed or blocked artery, blood is redirected through a graft. The graft is either a healthy blood vessel that has been transplanted or a human-made material. This graft is sewn above and below the diseased artery so that blood flows through the graft and around the diseased part.

In this picture, a graft bypasses a blockage in an artery near the knee. The graft connects the common femoral artery near the hip to a tibial artery in the lower leg.

Current as of: August 6, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff
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