Femoropopliteal Bypass

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Femoropopliteal (fem-er-o-pop-lih-t-ull) bypass surgery is surgery on a blocked artery in your leg. It is also called a "fem-pop" bypass. Blood cannot flow into the leg when this artery is blocked. The femoral artery is in the thigh and the popliteal (pop-lih-t-ull) artery is near the knee. The blocked part of the femoral artery is bypassed or cut out, and replaced with a man-made graft.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

• Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking it until you discuss it with your caregiver. If you are taking antibiotics (an-ti-bi-ah-tiks), take them until they are all gone even if you feel better.
  
  
• Keep a written list of what medicines you take and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicine. Do not take any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
  
  
• Your caregiver may prescribe blood thinners such as aspirin after you go home. This is to replace the blood thinning medicine you may have been receiving in your IV in the hospital. This medicine helps to stop blood from forming clots.
  
  
• Blood pressure medicine may be needed to lower your blood pressure after your surgery. You may have to take it for the rest of the life.
  
  
• If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do not drive or use heavy equipment.

Appointment:

Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Activity:

• You may feel like resting more after surgery. Slowly start to do more each day. Rest when you feel it is needed.
  
  
• Talk to your caregiver before you start exercising. Together you can plan the best exercise program for you. It is best to start slowly and do more as you get stronger. Exercising makes the heart stronger, lowers blood pressure, and keeps you healthy.
  
  
• Avoid lifting heavy objects. Ask your caregiver when you can start doing your usual activities again

Bathing: When you are allowed to bathe or shower, carefully wash the stitches/staples with soap and water. Afterwards put on a clean, new bandage. Or, change your bandage any time it gets wet or dirty. If you cannot reach the bandage, ask someone else to help you change it. You may have steri-strips (thin strips of tape) on your incision. Keep them clean and dry. As they start to peel off, let them fall off by themselves. Do not pull them off.

BMs: It may be hard for you to have a BM after surgery. Don't try to push the BM out if it's too hard. Walking is the best way to get your bowels moving. Eat foods high in fiber to make it easier to have a BM. Good examples are high fiber cereals, beans, vegetables, and whole grain breads. Prune juice may help make the BM softer. Caregivers may tell you to take fiber medicine to help make your BMs softer and more regular. This fiber medicine can be bought at drug and grocery stores.

Eating and Drinking: Eat healthy foods from all of the 5 food groups: fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy products, meat and fish. Eating healthy foods may help you feel better and have more energy. It may also help you heal faster. Ask your caregiver if you need to be on a special diet after surgery.

• You may be told to control the amount of fat you eat. Ask your caregiver for the CareNotes™ handout on low fat diets.
  
  
• You may also be told to limit the amount of salt you eat. This may mean you should not add salt to your food during meals or when you cook.
  
  
• Drink 6 to 8 (soda pop can size) glasses of liquid each day. Or, follow your caregiver's advice if you must limit the amount of liquid you drink. Good liquids to drink are water, juices, and milk. Limit the amount of caffeine you drink, such as coffee, tea, and soda.
  
  
• Your caregiver may want you to take vitamins after you go home. Ask your caregiver what kind and how much vitamins to take.
  
  
• It can take time getting used to a new diet. A caregiver called a dietitian (di-uh-tih-shun) may help you learn what foods to eat. Special cookbooks may also help the cook in the family find new recipes.

Support Stockings: Wear thigh high support stockings or elastic bandages for 3 to 4 weeks after surgery. The support stockings are also called Ted Hose® or Jobst Stockings®. These stockings help lesson swelling in your legs until you are walking more. They also keep blood from staying in your legs and causing clots.

Smoking: It is never too late to quit smoking if you smoke. Smoking harms the heart, lungs, and the blood. You are more likely to have a heart attack, lung disease, and cancer if you smoke. You will help yourself and those around you by not smoking. Ask your caregiver for the CareNotes™ handout on how to stop smoking if you are having trouble quitting.

Stress: Stress may slow healing and cause illness later. Since it is hard to avoid stress, learn to control it. Learn new ways to relax (deep breathing, relaxing muscles, meditation, or biofeedback). Talk to your caregiver about things that upset you.

When can I have sex? You can usually have sex when you feel strong enough. Talk to your caregiver if you are worried.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have new numbness or tingling in your foot or leg.
  
  
• Your incisions are swollen, red, or have pus coming from them. This may mean they are infected.
  
  
• You have trouble having a BM or have diarrhea often.
  
  
• You start vomiting (throwing-up) or cannot keep food down.
  
  
• You have a fever (increased body temperature).
  
  
• You have chills, a cough, or feel weak and achy. These may be signs that you may have an infection.
  
  
• Your skin is itchy, swollen, or has a rash. Your medicine may be causing these symptoms. This may mean you are allergic (uh-ler-jik) to your medicine.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your surgery or medicine.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• If you have severe pain in either of your legs. Or, if your foot or leg is turning blue and feeling numb. This may be a sign that you have a clot in your leg
  
  
• Your feet become very cold or turn pale or blue.
  
  
• You have trouble breathing all of a sudden.
  
  
• Your stitches or staples come apart.
  
  
• Your bandage becomes soaked with blood.
  
  
• You have chest pain. This could be a sign that you have a blood clot in your lung.
  
  
• You have signs of a heart attack:
  
  
  • Chest pain that spreads to your arms, jaw, or back.
    
    
  • Nausea (sick to your stomach).
    
    
  • Trouble breathing.
    
    
  • Sweating.
    
    
  • This is an emergency. Call 911 or 0 (operator) for an ambulance to get to the nearest hospital or clinic. Do not drive yourself!

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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