femoral-to-popliteal artery bypass, grafting with a saphenous vein or straight synthetic graft to bypass an occluded section of the femoral artery and restore blood flow to the leg. Surgery is performed with the patient in a supine position, with the hip externally rotated and abducted and the knee flexed. An in situ femoral-to-popliteal bypass uses the patient’s saphenous vein, which stays in place. Contraindications for this procedure are varicose veins or previous saphenous vein ligation and stripping.
