ABSTRACT
Percutaneous coronary balloon angioplasty was initiated in 1977 by Andreas Gruentzig and his colleagues. In those days, balloon angioplasty had a high risk (>3%) of myocardial infarction due to acute closure of the dilated vessels.1 Coronary stenting has solved such acute complications, and has become the standard percutaneous interventional procedure. Currently, stenting is performed in more than 80% of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for the treatment of de novo stenosis.2 However, balloon angioplasty remains essential in daily interventional practice, and is undoubtedly necessary for the pre-dilatation and post-dilatation of stents, treatment of instent restenosis, and for small or large vessels. In these situations, stents have not added any benefit over balloon angioplasty.
