ESVS XVI Istanbul 2002

The 16th ESVS meeting will be held this year in Istanbul, Turkey. According to the society’s president, André Nevelsteen, the choice of venue is symbolic in two ways. Vascular surgery took root in Byzantine times, with the first know operation on a popliteal artery aneurysm taking place in 3rd century AD. This meeting has also come to the far side of Europe on its Asian borders in a year when the society has liased closely with different vascular societies in both Asia and America. Nevelsteen gave praise to the Local Organising Committee, under the chairmanship of Mehmet Kurtoglu, for the enormous effort they have put into the meeting and especially for the “most interesting and varied social programme” that they have provided.

The popularity of the meeting is reflected in the amount of abstracts submitted – this year there were 330 of which 48 were selected. The scientific programme is rich and varied, with satellite symposia on all aspects of vascular and endovascular surgery. There will also be open meetings for VASCUNET, EUROSTAR and UEMS-EBVS as well as the customary workshops and debates. “The Annual Meeting of the European Society for Vascular Surgery has become a must, not only for vascular surgeons, but for all those involved in the treatment of peripheral vascular pathology,” says Nevelsteen. The meeting venue is the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Centre (ICEC), ideally located in the heart of the city's business, cultural and commercial districts and within walking distance of all major hotels.

Istanbul is an exciting, picturesque and vibrant city and is only two or three hours away from every major European airport. Turkish Airlines (official air carrier for the meeting) will apply a 50% reduction on all normal APT tickets (business and economy class) and a 10% reduction on special APT tickets. Check the ESVS website (www.esvs.org) for further details. The weather in Istanbul in September is likely to be mild, with an average temperature of 18–25°C, 64–77°F. There may be occasional light rain showers, so it may be an idea to pack an umbrella.

The organisers have a packed social programme on offer to both delegates and their accompanying partners. The XVI Congress of the ESVS will kick off in the evening of Thursday 26 September with the customary Opening Ceremony, Concert and Welcome Reception, to be held at the conference venue. This will be followed by a cocktail reception. On Saturday 28 September the Gala Dinner will take place at the Esma Sultan Palace, on the waterfront at Ortaköy. The meal itself will be based on the “1001 Nights” theme and its venue is a most attractive historical site, built for the daughter of Sultan Abdülhamit I.

The partners programme has been organised to include visits to the historical sights along with opportunities to shop and relax. On the first day of the conference, there is a trip to the Asiatic side of the city, with breathtaking views of the magnificent Bosphorus which divides Europe from Asia. The following day various tours to the old city are on offer. There are stops at the 16th century Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decorated with blue Iznik tiles and the Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of historic chariot races. There will also be an opportunity to see the Topkapi Palace which houses an exquisite collection of crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, the Holy Mantle and relics of the Prophet Mohammed. The tour continues to the ancient basilica of St Sophia, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and today referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World. Visitors finish up in the labyrinth of streets and passages known as the Grand Covered Bazaar where there are more than 4,000 shops selling everything that is typically Turkish; from gold jewellery, carpets, leather goods and hand painted ceramic plates to copper and brassware, water ewers, onyx and meerschaum pipes. The organisers have also programmed a night cruise which will take in all the beautiful historical sites along the Bosphorous, a visit to a 400 year old Turkish Bath where you can relax and have a massage and a cruise to the Princess Islands in the Marmara Sea.

The ISEV Consortium is also able to arrange any tours that delegates might like to take either before or after the meeting. These could include trips to Ephesus, Cappadocia or Antalya. Please contact them on telephone number +90 212 231 21 20 or email isev@esvs2002.org. The organisers wish delegates to note that September is the busiest time of the year in Istanbul for both tourist and congress bookings so it is recommended that anyone who has not yet registered do so as soon as possible.