At CX35, Cees Wittens, Maastricht, The Netherlands, presented his experience with stents for deep vein occlusive disease. He told delegates that the ideal device should offer high radial force and high flexibility.

Gerard Stansby, Newcastle, UK, stated that the use of glue in varicose veins in safe and effective and that, if it continues to show good results, it will be a very attractive procedure for the future.

Zamaneh Kassiri, a professor in the Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, is investigating the role of a protein called TIMP3 in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Sixty per cent of delegates agreed with Sebastian Debus and Richard Salter and voted against the motion that below-the-knee stenting is worthwhile. Eric Ducasse and Iris Baumgartner spoke for the motion.

In Leicester, UK, rapid-access surgery for symptomatic carotid stenosis has been offered since October 2008. Ross Naylor reviews the practical lessons that have been learned with the experience. He discussed this topic at CX35 on Tuesday 9 April 2013.

"Stent grafting of the ascending aorta is technically feasible but should be reserved to selected high risk patients only, preferably in centres where vascular specialists cooperate closely with interventional cardiologists," writes Ralf Kolvenbach.

Peter Gloviczki, professor of Surgery, president of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) 2012–2013, started his career in Hungary and moved to the United States in 1981 to work in Mayo Clinic. With a special interest in magic, he won a TV contest in Hungary when he was 14. He spoke to Vascular News on his career achievements, the goals for the SVS in his tenure and his passion for magic.

Being the first to use a hybrid endovascular operating room in Italy is one of Piergiorgio Cao’s proudest moments. Now, chief of Vascular Surgery at San Camillo Hospital, Rome, Italy, Cao spoke to Vascular News about his aspirations to examine the healthcare organisation in his home country and his passion for mentoring his children (both medical students).