Artery Bypass Graft

A bypass graft improves blood flow by providing a detour for the blood to follow – around the blocked area of an artery. For a peripheral artery bypass graft, the surgeon may take a vein from your leg or arm and then attach one end of it above the obstruction and the other end below it, providing a new route for the blood. In renal artery bypass surgery, the surgeon may take a vein from your thigh and attach the graft directly to the kidney artery and to the aorta, to bypass a blocked kidney artery. After surgery, you may spend several days in the hospital to ensure optimal recovery.