ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION The treatment of bifurcation lesions utilizing a technique of provisional side branch (SB) stenting fundamentally requires the operator to make bedside decisions regarding specific treatments within the SB after the stent is placed in the main vessel (MV). For the most part, current practice dictates careful evaluation of the angiogram obtained after MV stenting to look for SB ostial narrowing, reduced flow down the SB, or dissection. Although clear-cut evidence of decreased flow or dissection mandates further therapy to preserve the patency of the SB, the majority of cases do not possess these definitive findings.
