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.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

There are always risks with surgery. You may bleed more than usual or get an infection (in-fek-shun). You could have trouble breathing, get blood clots, or have problems with your heart or kidneys. Caregivers watch you closely for these problems. If you don't have surgery, the blood may stop flowing in your leg. This could cause you to lose your leg. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your medicine or care.

GETTING READY:

The Week Before Surgery:

• Ask your caregiver if you need to stop taking aspirin or any other blood thinning medicines before your procedure.
  
  
• Tell your caregiver about any over-the-counter medicines you are taking, such as vitamins, herbs, food supplements, or laxatives.
  
  
• You may need blood tests before your procedure. Talk to your caregiver about these or other tests you may need. Write down the date, time and location for each test.
  
  
• Take antibiotic (an-ti-bi-ah-tik) medicine before surgery if given to you by your caregiver.
  
  
• You may be given a tour of the ICU before your surgery to help you become familiar with it.
  
  
• You may be able to donate your own blood before surgery. This is called autologous (ah-tall-uh-gus) blood donation. This must be done no later than 3 days before surgery. Or, you may also ask a family member or friend with the same blood type to donate his/hers. This is called directed blood donation. Talk to your caregiver for more information on autologous or directed blood donation.

The Night Before Surgery:

• You may be given a pill to take to help you sleep.
  
  
• Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking.

The Day of Surgery:

• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your surgery.
  
  
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing to the hospital.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver before taking any medicine on the day of surgery. These medicines include insulin, diabetic pills, high blood pressure pills, or heart pills. Bring a list of your medicines or the pill bottles with you to the hospital.
  
  
• Do not wear contact lenses the day of surgery. You may wear your glasses.
  
  
• Bring your personal belongings with you as you will be staying in the hospital after surgery, These include your bathrobe, toothbrush, denture cup (if needed), hairbrush, and slippers. Do not wear jewelry or bring money or important personal papers to the hospital.
  
  
• An anesthesiologist (an-iss-thee-z-all-o-jist) may talk to you before your surgery. This is the caregiver who gives you medicine before and during surgery so that you do not feel or remember the surgery.
  
  
• Informed Consent: You have the right to understand your health problem in words you can understand. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your problem. Your doctor should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.

TREATMENT:

What Will Happen: You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. You may be given medicine in your IV to help you relax or make you drowsy. You will be taken on a cart to the operating room. You may get medicine called regional anesthesia (an-iss-thee-zuh) that will numb you below the waist. Or, you may get general anesthesia to keep you completely asleep. You and your caregiver will decide which type is best for you.

• Caregivers make 2 to 3 incisions (cuts) in your leg. One is along your inner thigh and the other is along the inside of your knee. An incision may be made in your lower leg so a vein can be removed for a graft. The vein from your lower leg or a man-made graft (tube) is sewed to your femoral artery above the blocked area. It is then tunneled under the skin and muscles in your thigh to the incision near your knee. The far end of the graft is sewed to the popliteal artery below the blocked area. Blood then flows through the vein or graft around the blocked area.
  
  
• The incisions is closed with stitches or staples. Steri-strips (thin strips of tape) may be put over your incisions. Bandages are put on your incisions and elastic bandages are wrapped around your leg.

After Surgery: You will be taken to the recovery room or an intensive care unit. A bandage will cover your stitches or staples. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says it is OK. You will usually stay in the hospital less than a week.

Waiting Room: This is a room where your family can wait until you are ready for visitors after surgery. Your doctor or nurse can then find them to let them know how the surgery went. If your family leaves the hospital, ask them to leave a phone number where they can be reached. When it is time for you to go home after surgery, someone will need to drive you home. Do not drive home alone. An adult should stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have questions or concerns about your surgery.
  
  
• You have a fever (increased body temperature).
  
  
• The problems for which you are having the surgery get worse.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You get terrible pain in your abdomen (belly), back, or side.
  
  
• You have trouble breathing all of a sudden.
  
  
• 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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