Exposure of the tibial-peroneal arteries by a single lateral approach.

A lateral approach with fibular resection provides excellent exposure of the tibia1 and peroneal arteries of the upper leg. Bypass grafting to either of these vessels is feasible and suggested when preoperative angiograms show severe diffuse stenosis or occlusion of the popliteal artery or when introoperative angiography or surgical exploration discloses unsuspected maior occlusive disease of the distal popliteal artery. Delayed films will often show reconstitution of one or more of the leg vessels amenable to revascularization by the lateral approach.