Читать книгу Interventional Cardiology - Группа авторов - Страница 116

Alessio Mattesini, Pierluigi Demola, Sahil A. Parikh, Gioel Gabrio Secco, Michele Pighi, and Carlo Di Mario

Old photographs show Andreas Gruentzig working with his wife in a kitchen on the first coronary angioplasty balloons. They were very bulky, difficult to position as there was no guidewire lumen, and too compliant to safely expand resistant lesions in coronary arteries. Further understanding and development in manufacturing techniques and evolution of materials have reduced the profile of angioplasty balloons while increasing their robustness, deliverability, reliability, and safety profile. Similarly, workhorse guidewires have been developed with improvements in torque and force transmission while having more durable and less traumatic but shapeable tips. Specialty guidewires have been developed for the treatment of specific lesion types including chronic total occlusions. A wide range of guide catheters, guidewires, and angioplasty balloons are now available, and continue to evolve to overcome variations in anatomy, changes in vascular access, and evolution in technique. The appropriate selection and safe and optimal use of these devices can reduce procedural time and increase procedural success and safety with hopes of improving clinical outcomes.