MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia:Arterial bypass leg

Skip navigation

Medical Encyclopedia

Arterial bypass leg - series: Incision

Arterial bypass leg - series
Illustrations:

Incision

Peripheral arterial bypass surgery is required for atherosclerotic lesions in the arteries of the leg. This surgery involves using a vein graft (saphenous vein), taken from the same leg, and suturing the vein into the artery to bypass the blockage. While the patient is anesthetized using general or spinal anesthesia, an incision is made in the inside of the leg from the groin to below the knee.

Update Date: 5/15/2008

Updated by: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2009, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.