Surgery Overview

An aortobifemoral bypass is surgery to redirect blood flow around blocked blood vessels in your belly or groin area. The surgery is done to increase blood flow to the legs. This may relieve symptoms such a leg pain, numbness, and cramping. You may be able to walk longer distances without leg pain.

The doctor will use a man-made blood vessel, called a graft, to bypass the blocked blood vessels. The graft will carry blood from the aorta to the femoral artery in the groin area of each thigh. The aorta is the large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the blood vessels in the belly. The femoral arteries are large blood vessels that carry blood from the blood vessels in the belly to the legs.

The doctor will make a cut in your belly. The doctor will also make a cut in your groin at the top of each thigh. These cuts are called incisions. The doctor will put the graft in your belly through the incisions. The graft is connected to the aorta and the femoral arteries. Stitches or staples are used to close the incisions.

You will probably spend 4 to 7 days in the hospital. You will need to take it easy for at least 4 to 6 weeks at home.

How It Is Done

Aortobifemoral bypass surgery is used to bypass a narrowed or blocked part of the large blood vessels in the abdomen and groin.

To bypass the diseased part of the blood vessel, blood is redirected through a graft. The graft is made of man-made material. This graft is sewn above and below the diseased vessel so that blood flows through the graft and around the narrowed or blocked part. The graft looks like an upside-down Y shape. The single end of the Y is sewn on the aorta. The two split ends of the Y are sewn below the blocked or narrowed areas of the femoral arteries.

What To Expect

You will probably spend 4 to 7 days in the hospital. Your belly and groin will be sore for several weeks. You will probably feel more tired than usual for several weeks.

You may be able to do many of your usual activities after 4 to 6 weeks. But you will likely need 2 to 3 months to fully recover.

You will probably need to take at least 4 to 6 weeks off from work. It depends on the type of work you do and how you feel.

You will have regular tests to check for problems with the graft.

Why It Is Done

Aortobifemoral bypass surgery is for people who have narrowed or blocked blood vessels (aorta or iliac arteries) in the abdomen and pelvis. Usually the disease must be causing significant symptoms or be limb-threatening before bypass surgery is considered.^{footnote 1, footnote 2}

Learn more

How Well It Works

Bypass surgery can restore blood flow and relieve intermittent claudication.^{footnote 1, footnote 2}

Risks

All surgeries carry a certain amount of risk. These risks include:

• Infection from the incision.
• Bleeding.
• Heart attack or stroke.

Specific risks for aortobifemoral bypass surgery include:

• Leg swelling.
• Failed or blocked grafts.
• Sexual dysfunction caused by nerve damage in the pelvis.