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Chapter 2
•
Cardiovascular Care
63
Arterial Bypass Graft
Bypass grafting serves to bypass
an arterial obstruction resulting
from arteriosclerosis. After
exposing the affected artery, the
surgeon anastomoses a synthetic
or autogenous graft to divert blood
flow around the occluded arterial
segment.
Arterial Bypass Graft
Occluded
arterial
segment
Graft
Embolectomy
Balloon
Direction
of blood
flow
Embolus
Indwelling
catheter
Balloon
Embolus
Indwelling
catheter
Embolectomy
To remove an embolism from an
artery, a surgeon may perform an
embolectomy by inserting a balloon-
tipped indwelling catheter in the
artery and passing it through the
embolus. He then inflates the balloon
and withdraws the catheter to remove
the occlusion.