Since Dr. Andreas Gruentzig performed the first angioplasty procedure in a human in 1977,<sup>39 Gruntzig A.R., Senning A., Siegenthaler W.E. Nonoperative dilation of coronary-artery stenosis N Engl J Med 1979 ;  301 : 61-68  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> the technology and techniques of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have developed considerably. Until relatively recently, balloon angioplasty performed in the presence of adjunctive therapy with aspirin and heparin has been the only widely available percutaneous revascularization modality. A number of new devices have been adopted into everyday clinical practice, including stents, atherectomy catheters, and others. The use of new pharmacologic agents as adjuncts to interventional procedures, particularly glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists, also has become standard. In addition, although the intra-aortic balloon pump is not a new device, the use of balloon pumps and other circulatory support devices in selected high-risk patients undergoing coronary intervention has grown.

Patient selection for percutaneous revascularization has changed considerably. PCI now is performed commonly in many patients who generally were not treated with PCI in the past, including patients with acute myocardial infarction or multivessel disease. Finally, although this article is limited to therapeutic approaches for coronary artery disease, it should be recognized that the scope of percutaneous intervention now extends to procedures involving the carotid arteries, peripheral arteries, and the aorta.