Your doctor has told you that you have a condition called
peripheral artery disease (PAD). She or he also has recommended
bypass surgery to improve blood flow and ease your pain. What
now? First, ask your doctor what bypass will mean for you.
Although everyone's PAD is a bit different, and their surgery
may differ as well, the term bypass means the same. It indicates
that instead of cleaning out clogged arteries, blockages are
avoided by creating a new channel, or channels, so blood can
flow more freely. This surgery isn't a cure—plaques may continue
to form—but it can be a tremendous improvement. With a bypass,
you'll have a new bridge between arteries. The bridge is made of
either part of your own veins or a fabric tube designed
especially for this purpose. The blockage is still there, but
now your surgeon has created a detour for your blood. Whether
you get a bypass made of synthetic fabric or your own tissue
depends on a vascular surgeon's assessment of your condition,
plus the availability of healthy vei