Q: My father has a bypass surgery scheduled but the doctor says his veins from his legs are too small does anyone know what other options are their, his diabetic and might need dialysis
Yes, they will use the radial artery of one or both arms.
But they can and will probable also use his Mammary Arteries.
There is a Mammary Artery that goes from the heart to supply blood to each side of the chest/breast. They rip them out and reroute them to the area of the heart that had blockages.
I had 4 bypasses, 3 from the leg, and 1 Mammary.
Hi Rose,
Your father's physician should discuss other options with you and your father. Sometimes, if the doctors are unable to find/use a vein graft in the legs, the arms may have vein options to consider. They might even consider using the radial artery of one or both arms. I encourage you to speak with his physician to see what the best approach may be.
Best Regards,
Karen McPartland, RD, CSSD
I don't know the answer to your question.
But I know it is common for the majority of bypass people to be diabetic, and I haven't heard of anyone having any trouble.
If it would affect it, I'm sure they can get enought vien out of ONE arm, as for me they got enough out of a 12 inch vien in one leg.
I biggest part of bypass, is in your mind. Don't worry about it, and help him from worrying about it. They do alot of bypass they are very good at it and most people only have less then a 2 percent change of ANY complications.
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What about him getting dialysis will that affect him? if they use the vains from his arms?