Andreas Gruentzig as viewed by a radiologist.pdfVIP

319 As a clinical cardiologist and close friend of Andreas Gruentzig, I saw him as a national, international and personal treasure. My sadness is profound but as he would say, “Come on now - get on with it.” And we will. Andreas Gruentzig as viewed by a radiologist * William J. Casarella Ten years ago most radiologists were content to demonstrate and quantitate lesions of the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and biliary systems. The introduction of the Gruentzig balloon catheter in 1974 made angioplasty a popular, safe, and reliable technique. His invention and subsequent superb results in perfor- ming peripheral angioplasty stimulated and entire generation of vascular radiologists to develop and extend the concept of balloon dilatation to virtually all tubular structures that are subject to stricture or stenosis. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty has been successfully applied to the femoral, iliac, renal, mesenteric, subclavian, carotid, and coronary arteries as well as to the aorta itself. Results have been generally better than originally expected and almost as good as could have been hoped for. The procedure has gained a well deserved place in the field of vascular therapeutics. The use of Gruentzig designed cylindrical balloons has been enhanced by continued technical evolution of the balloon catheters and associated