Frequently Asked Questions

In the last issue, flax was listed as an herbal that affects warfarin. Does this include flaxseed oil?
We found no reference that covers flaxseed oil. It would seem quite possible that it too would affect warfarin. Be cautious when you take flaxseed oil and have your health care provider monitor your blood coagulation rate (INR) level closely for a while.

Is it more successful in the long term to use an artery or a vein from the arm or leg when having vascular bypass?
Vascular surgeons usually prefer to use a vein when doing a bypass in the leg for PAD or critical-limb ischemia. Most often the saphenous vein in the leg is used. If the saphenous vein is not available or not usable, the cephalic or basilic veins from the arm may be used. Because veins have a natural resistance to clot formation, they have long-term success rates that are superior to prosthetic grafts for leg bypass.

If the replacement is for the aorta (the large artery from the heart to the legs) for an aneurysm or PAD, then a prosthetic graft is required because of the larger diameter of the aorta. With the high flow rates in the aorta compared to leg arteries, prosthetic grafts are preferred, even though they are more susceptible to clot formation than using one's own veins.