Frequently Asked Questions

Q. My wife has an infection in her toe which has persisted for over a month. She had a Doppler exam of the right leg the other evening but it was negative. Still her doctor believes the problem is vascular. Do you have information on the internet where I could read a simple description of this problem?
A. Your wife's doctor is probably correct in suspecting that she has vascular disease. A foot ulcer or sore that does not heal can be a strong indication of peripheral arterial disease. It is possible that her arteries are narrowed or blocked and are not delivering a sufficient amount of blood to her feet. Not all cases of arterial disease will show up on Doppler tests or ankle brachial index tests, especially if the arteries are hardened due to diabetes or normal aging. You can read about further tests on our website and treatment options at www.vdf.org. We encourage you and your wife to continue working closely with her doctors and continue to ask good questions.

Q. My 76-year-old mother had femoral bypass surgery this week. Can you just tell me what the average recuperation time is after this surgery? I'm hoping to fly her home with me two weeks after she's back home. If all goes as expected, would that usually be possible?
A. Naturally each patient's recovery time will vary, but on average the hospital stay is about 5-7 days. Some individuals may also require rehabilitation services at home or in the hospital. After resting at home, they are usually feeling back to normal in about 4-5 weeks unless any wound problems or leg swelling has occurred. The time period you are wondering about seems reasonable for her to fly provided all goes well. The most common complication is infection at the groin incision. Keep a close watch on her wounds and gradually return her activity to normal depending how she is feeling.