<p> It is only 26 years since the first percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was carried out by the pioneering Swiss radiologist, Andreas Greuntzig, heralding the dawn of interventional cardiology. In this short time, interventional cardiology has overcome many limitations and undergone major evolutionary changes—most notably the development of the coronary stent. Worldwide, many thousands of patients now safely undergo percutaneous coronary intervention every day, and the numbers continue to grow. In many countries, the numbers arc similar to, or excced, bypass surgical procedures k� h�R��8� rote questions and answers. </p>

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