ABSTRACT
It has been almost 40 years since Andreas Gruentzig performed the first human percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), marking a major milestone in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is performed most commonly through either the femoral or the radial artery. The brachial cut down approach is rarely ever used in the current era. In the infancy of PTCA, criteria for patient selection were rigorous - refractory angina and single-vessel atherosclerotic coronary disease with normal or well-preserved left ventricular function in patients who were, otherwise, good candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The widespread application of intra-coronary stents and use of dual anti-platelet therapy have contributed to an overall decrease in complications in the current era of PCI. Coronary dissection occurs when splitting of the arterial wall layers occurs. It is the most common angiographic complication during PCI.
