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Chapter 2 • Cardiovascular Care  63

Arterial Bypass Graft

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.

Occluded arterial segment

Graft

Embolectomy

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.

Balloon

Direction of blood flow

Balloon

Embolus

Indwelling catheter

Embolus

Indwelling catheter