or more generally as lower extremity bypass surgery, is a surgical procedure used to treat diseased leg arteries above or below the knee.

Before surgery is considered, adjustments are made to lifestyle habits such as quitting smoking or exercising more, or using medications, to relieve or improve symptoms.

A blocked femoral artery reduces the blood flow to the areas of the thigh and calf, causing the pain that leads to claudication.

[5] Also, when comparing the efficacy of using PTFE or the great saphenous vein in people with claudication and critical limb ischemia, the latter showed better long term results.

Complications include but not limited to the following: In the study of 6,007 people carried out popliteal bypass surgery, the overall rate of morbidity and mortality was 36.8% and 2.3% respectively within 30 days post-surgery.

[16] Occasionally, there may be leakage of fluid or blood from the incision wound, a study shows that 7.4 percent people are affected within 30 days post operation.

[14] Lymphedema can be caused by blockages in the lymphatic system, leading to insufficient lymph drainage and fluid build-up in the leg.

[medical citation needed] In rare situations when blockages severely disrupt or stop blood circulation, critical limb ischemia occurs.

[18] The major goals of amputation are to remove dead tissues, relieve pain and promote wound healing.

[medical citation needed] With surgery operations such as popliteal bypass, there will be an increased probability of blood clot formation.

The surgeon makes an incision in the upper leg, and a graft either man-made or the patient's vein is sewn to both ends of the artery.

[20] The graft reroutes the blood flow around the blocked artery, allowing for adequate supply back to the parts of the leg.

[5] A 2018 Cochrane review found moderate-quality evidence for improved long term success (60 months) for autologous vein grafts when compared to prosthetic materials for above-knee bypasses.

[2] In order to reduce the risk of complications after surgery, patients should refrain from smoking because it can decrease blood circulation, which makes the graft more likely to fail.

Walking is also essential during early recovery periods, it may help reduce swelling to facilitate wound healing and aids collateral artery formation in the leg, which can improve blood flow around blockages.

[4] Other factors such as maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise may also prevent unnecessary strain on the leg arteries from weight gain.

[medical citation needed] In some cases where the blockage is not as severe or limb threatening, alternative procedures that may take place are percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or endarterectomy.