PCR - 60 years of transluminal angioplasty - The epic tale of pioneers

In this podcast, Chiara De Biase and Jean Marco highlight three key reasons for Charles Dotter's failure to spread his method widely in the USA. Firstly, his position as a radiologist, not a vascular surgeon; secondly, his aggressive presentation of the technique, coupled with limited patient data; and lastly, his unconventional approach to developing tools and the lack of clear objectives.Stay tuned to discover how Dotter's method made its way to Europe in the next episode.

In this episode, Chiara De Biase and Jean Marco discuss how Eberhard Zeitler, inspired by Dotter's work, introduced the method in Germany. Grüntzig, known for his solid medical background and empathetic demeanor, received crucial support from colleagues. His determination, teamwork, and commitment led to the development of a flexible catheter with a non-compliant balloon, which resulted in the first human transluminal balloon angioplasty in 1974. Stay tuned to learn how he then moved from the leg to the coronaries in the next episode!

In this final episode, Chiara De Biase and Jean Marco trace the journey of transluminal angioplasty from Charles Dotter in the US to Andreas Grüntzig in Europe. Grüntzig's vision was to apply balloon angioplasty to treat coronary artery stenosis, for which he defined clear goals and working axes. With determination, he collaborated with experts to develop a double-lumen balloon catheter and tested its safety and feasibility in animals and during bypass surgery. Despite scepticism, Grüntzig successfully performed the first percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in September 1977, realising his dream.