ABSTRACT
After percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) had been first introduced by Andreas Gruentzig in 19771 as an alternative form of myocardial revascularization for patients with coronary artery disease, it appeared that it should be limited to patients with single, proximal vessel coronary artery disease, well-preserved left ventricular function and stable angina refractory to medical treatment. However, subsequent improvements in equipment and technique have led to its use in patients with stenoses that are more complex, located in distal arterial segments or located in more than one coronary artery.2
