In the midst of late-breaking trials　and live sessions, attendees took　time to remember a defining moment in interventional cardiology: when the late Andreas Gruentzig, MD, performed the first coronary angioplasty on Dolf Bachmann on September 16, 1977.

The first angioplasty

Spencer B. King III, MD; Martin B. Leon, MD; Bernhard Meier, MD; and Gregg W. Stone, MD, shared their memories of Gruentzig and the momentous angioplasty procedure that revolutionized the field. Gruentzig developed the angioplasty balloon catheter in 1972 and 1973.    

After months spent searching for an appropriate patient for his procedure, Gruentzig found 38-
year-old Bachmann, who exhibited an 85% stenosis in the left anterior descending coronary artery. Gruentzig used the balloon catheter to successfully open Bachmann’s blocked artery.

Bachmann, now 68 years old, took the stage, saying, “Who would have imagined that 30 years after the visionary intervention by Dr. Gruentzig, I would be free of any problems in my health?”

Bachmann took a moment to give attendees a brief glimpse into his life. Having grown up as an orphan in a small village in Switzerland, he experienced many hardships, but “hit rock bottom” in 1977, when he was diagnosed with angina. He met with Gruentzig, who thoroughly explained his early work with the angioplasty procedure, giving Bachmann hope for treatment.

Stone presented Bachmann with a plaque, commemorating the trust and bravery it took to become the first angioplasty patient. He highlighted Bachmann’s role in helping to save the lives of millions of future patients. In return, Bachmann praised attendees in the audience for their work.

Spencer B. King III, MD (left) and Bernhard Meier, MD; (right) shared their memories of
Andreas Gruentzig, MD, who performed the first angioplasty on Dolf Bachmann (center).

Honoring Gruentzig

Meier honored Gruentzig’s work and recalled his role in treating Bachmann. Ten years after the initial angioplasty, follow-up showed Bachmann to have a healthy LAD. It remained that way until April, 2000, 23 years after the procedure. Bachmann developed a lesion, and Meier implanted a stent, but in-stent restenosis eventually developed.

“The path was not straightforward. It was a difficult path,” Meier said. King also took the stage and recalled Gruentzig and his visionary qualities. According to King, TCT is a natural outgrowth of the live case courses and meetings held by Gruentzig in the early days when angioplasty was first introduced to the medical community. King also stated that Gruentzig would be impressed with the trials and research shown at the meeting.