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1. Why do I need the operation?
Because you have a blockage or narrowing of the arteries supplying your legs, the circulation of blood to your legs is reduced. This becomes particularly noticeable when your muscles require more blood during walking and causes pain. Any further fall in the flow of blood may lead to constant pain with the risks of ulcers or gangrene developing. This operation is to bypass the blocked arteries in the leg so that the blood supply is improved.
2. Before your operation.
If you are not already in hospital you will usually be admitted one or two days before your operation or will be asked to attend a pre-admission clinic about a week before your operation in order to allow time for tests required to make sure you are fit for the operation. An x-ray of the arteries (arteriogram) and/or a scan (ultrasound) to find out where the blockages are may be performed if it has not already been done.
3. Coming into hospital.
Please bring with you a list of all the medications that you are currently taking. You will be admitted to your bed by one of the nurses who will also note down your personal details in your nursing records. Prior to surgery you will undergo a number of investigations, if these have not been performed previously, including a heart tracing, a chest x-ray and blood tests. You will be visited by the Surgeon who will be performing your operation and also the doctor who will give you the anaesthetic. If you have any questions regarding the operation please ask the doctors.
4. The operation.
You will be taken initially to a reception area in the theatre suite, then to the anaesthetic room where you will be given your anaesthetic, and from there into the theatre. You will be put to sleep (a general anaesthetic) and usually you will have a tube inserted into your back through which pain killers can be given to numb the lower half of your body (epidural) in order to provide pain relief after your surgery. Whilst you are asleep, a tube will be inserted into your bladder to drain your urine, and into a vein in your arm or neck (or both) for blood pressure measurements and administration of fluid following surgery. You will have a cut in the groin and one somewhere lower down your leg depending on which blood vessel is being bypassed. Often these will be connected as a long cut all the way down the leg. The bypass will usually be performed by using your own leg vein (don't worry - you can manage without it) but an artificial bypass tube made of plastic or strong fabric may be used instead. The wounds are often closed with a stitch under the skin which is removed subsequently.
5. After the operation.
After your operation you will be given fluids by a drip in one of your veins until you are well enough to sit up and take fluids and food by mouth. The nurses and doctors will try and keep you free of pain by giving pain killers by injection, via a tube in your back, or by a machine that you are able to control yourself by pressing a button. As the days pass and you improve the various tubes will be removed and you will become gradually more mobile until you are fit enough to go home. You will be visited by the physiotherapist before and after your operation who will help you with your breathing to prevent you developing a chest infection and with your walking. In some cases a scan of the bypass graft will be performed prior to going home to check it is functioning normally.
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