Peripheral Arterial Disease of the Legs Most of the time,
surgery is only done in cases of severe peripheral arterial
disease (PAD), such as disabling Reference intermittent
claudication; open sores (ulcers that won't heal); or serious
skin, bone, and tissue problems (Reference gangrene Opens New
Window). Bypass surgery redirects blood through a grafted blood
vessel to bypass the blood vessel that is damaged. The grafted
blood vessel may be a healthy natural vein or artery, or it may
be man-made. The methods of bypass surgery vary depending on the
size of the affected artery and where it is located. The type of
surgery used to treat PAD will depend on the location of the
Reference affected leg artery or arteries Opens New Window
Reference Opens New Window. - Reference Aortobifemoral bypass is
done for PAD that affects the Reference major abdominal artery
Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window (aorta) and the
large arteries that branch off of it. - Reference
Femoropopliteal (fem-pop) bypass is done for PA