Surgical Bypass in Louisville KY

A surgical bypass is exactly as it sounds; a surgical procedure where an alternative route or bypass is created around a blocked section of artery. As a person ages, plaque can build up on the walls of arteries. This is called atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries. This plaque is made up of cholesterol, calcium and fibrous tissue and causes a narrower, stiff artery passage. As the blockage progresses, the blood can no longer flow smoothly through the arteries resulting in a variety of potential complications.

A bypass procedure allows the blood to be rerouted using a graft connected above and below the blocked area so blood can resume its flow around the blockage. The graft can be made from a portion of existing veins or a synthetic tube.

Vascular surgeons use the bypass procedure to treat peripheral arterial disease (PAD), most commonly in the leg. It is also used to treat PAD in other locations in the body.