What Causes Thrombosis In The Leg After A Femoral Popliteal Bypass Surgery?

Posted on Sat, 15 Apr 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 15 Apr 2017 Answered on

Mon, 8 May 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I just had femoral bi pass 17 cm top of leg using my femoral bien which was clean + cleaning of artery below the bi pass. Also had artery cleaned (not sure which one) below knee 10 cm. One ulcer on toe healed after 30 days and other which was a deep wound almost healed on Achilles. Op XXXXXXX 29 2017. I have been walking also in gym with trainer and two different massage guys. Below knee inflammation way down and I can feel 80 % of leg. I am 57 diabetic type 1 very active in sport but 30 years of smoke quit 1 year ago. Foot leg goes little red when sitting goes pale when up or after walk. Have new veins showing on knee and back of leg. Have neuropathy in toes. Are the new viene ok? I may have trained to hard?

Answered by Dr. Mirjeta Guni (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
A US-color-Doppler is needed:

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your concern carefully.

The fact that the ulcers are healed after the aorta femoral bypass, is an indicator that the grafts have been working well.

Thrombosis is the most frequent late complication of surgical procedures in the aorto femoral area. In the presence of aorta bifemoral bypass, graft limb occlusion generally occurs within the first two years, that is why you need to be under close monitoring during this period.

I would recommend, continuous wave Doppler examination or UltraSound-color-Doppler scan in order to assess the permeability of the graft and exclude any thrombosis.

If the permeability is okay, probably an exaggerated physical activity is the cause of the symptoms you mentioned.

Hope I have been helpful. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee