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consecutive patients who underwent EVLT for short saphenous varicose veins in our department. A total of 59 consecutive procedures were performed in 52 patients during the study period. Patient age ranged from 21 to 86 (mean 51) years. All procedures were performed under local anaesthesia. Vein lengths treated ranged from 4 to 35 (mean 19) cm. The median amount energy utilized for venous ablation was 74 (range 60–88) J/cm. Results: No complications were encountered in any patients, apart from a single patient suffering from a wound infection. Follow up periods ranged from 2 to 24 months. A single recurrence was detected on clinical examination and duplex evaluation. Conclusion: EVLT is not only an effective option for SSV but has a very good safety profile. Recurrence rates are minimal and our interim results support this.

Background: Multiple strategies have been proposed to treat bifurcating coronary artery disease including both main branch (MB) stenting and side branch (SB) stenting (MBSB) or 1-branch stenting with provisional stenting of the other branch (PSOB). We present our own experience with MBSB stenting vs PSOB using the Taxus (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) paclitaxel drug-eluting stent (Boston Scientific). The study was approved by the institutional review board at our center. Methods: Five hundred eighteen consecutive patients with de novo lesions underwent bifurcating stenting in 2005 at our institution using the Taxus stent (86 PSOB, 432 MBSB). Follow-up data on 312 (60.2%) patients was achieved using phone interviews and review of medical records (52 PSOB, 260 MBSB). Mean follow-up was 6.7 months. Plavix and aspirin were ordered for at least 6 months post procedure. The primary end point of the study was the combined end points of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (ST-elevation MI and non–ST-elevation MI) and target lesion revascularization. Secondary outcomes included the individual end points of death, cardiac death, AST, TVR, target lesion revascularization, ST-elevation MI, and non–ST-elevation MI. Results: Demographic, clinical, and angiographic variables were not statistically different between the 2 groups. Procedural success (b30% residual) was 98% and 94% in the MB and SB in the MBSB group and 100% and 94.4% in the MB or SB, respectively, in the PSOB group. Kissing balloon was performed in 76% of lesions treated. Intermediate-term outcomes between MBSB and PSOB were statistically similar with a trend toward a better overall combined primary end point in the PSOB group compared to the MBSB one (10.8% vs 5.8% respectively). Conclusion: A strategy of PSOB provides similar intermediate-term outcomes to MBSB stenting and needs to be considered as a first approach to treating bifurcating disease.