title: The transtibial route for femoral to anterior tibial artery bypass.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the applicability of the transtibial route, via a drilled hole in the tibia, for femoral to anterior tibial artery bypass surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  in a pilot study of 10 patients the preoperative arm/ankle systolic blood pressure indices were compared with those after operation. Patients were followed for 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  of the 10 patients, one was lost to follow-up and two had occlusions of their bypasses. After two years the remaining seven still had patient bypasses, with arm/ankle systolic blood pressure indices that were significantly higher than those before operation (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The transtibial route, via a drilled hole in the tibia, is a viable alternative to other methods for femoral to anterior tibial artery bypass surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Reinier de Graaf Hospital, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ligtenstein
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koning
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology