“I am pleased that I am able to offer my patients state-of-the-art technology and procedures that rival larger cities — right here in Peoria.”
Andy Chiou, MD
A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body.
Tissue, either human or manmade, used to replace diseased or injured tissue from a part of the body.
When plaque builds up on the artery walls, causing the artery to narrow — also known as hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis.
This procedure, sometimes referred to as a peripheral vascular bypass or a lower extremity bypass, is performed to treat Peripheral Artery Disease, when the buildup of plaque in an artery has blocked the normal flow of blood that carries oxygen and other nutrients to the lower extremities.
This is an open procedure requiring general anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision to expose the affected artery above the blockage, and another to expose it below the blockage. The arteries are blocked off with vascular clamps, and the surgeon creates a new path for blood to flow around the blocked or narrowed artery.
The new path — or bypass — is created from either another blood vessel from the patient’s leg or from a synthetic (manmade) graft, which is sutured (stitched) into an opening in the side of one artery then into the other. The clamps are removed and the flow of blood is observed to make sure that it bypasses the blocked portion of the affected artery. Recovery instructions will depend on the area where the bypass was performed. The approximate hospital stay is two to four days, and the patient will be given specific instructions on activity restrictions and lifestyle modifications.