Tribute Paid to Andreas Gruentzig

　　在2007TCT会议的第一天除了引人注目的最新临床试验和来自世界各地的手术转播之外，今年正值血管成形术开展30周年，在该技术得到全面普及和发展的今天，在温馨而隆重的庆典上，与会者都不会忘记在介入心脏病学史上具有划时代意义的一刻：1977年9月16日已故的Andreas Gruentzig博士为患者Dolf Bachmann实行了第一例血管成形术。

　　首例血管成形术

　　Spencer B. King III 博士，Martin B. Leon博士，Bernhard Meier博士和Gregg W. Stone博士一同追忆了Gruentzig医生和他完成第一例血管成形术——介入心脏病学领域具有革命性意义的时刻。Gruentzig医生于1972年和1973年发明并改进了血管成形术球囊导管。

　　经过几个月筛选，Gruentzig博士发现了38岁的Bachmann的左冠状动脉前降支呈85%狭窄，他用球囊导管成功地开通了阻塞的血管。

　　如今已经68岁的Bachmann走上讲台说：“谁能想象得到经过Gruentzig医生富有想象力的介入手术30年后，我还能健康地生活着？”

　　Bachmann向与会者简短地介绍了他的身世。他是在瑞士一个山村长大的饱尝艰辛的孤儿，但是让他感到最痛苦的时候是在1977年，他被诊断为心绞痛。当他遇到了Gruentzig医生时，Gruentzig向Bachmann详细地解释了他在血管成形术方面的早期工作情况，这使Bachmann看到了治疗的希望。

　　Stone博士向Bachmann赠送了纪念章，感谢他的勇敢和信任，正是这些使他成为了第一例血管成形术患者。他高度评价了Bachmann在帮助救治其他数百万生命中所起的作用。Bachmann也对与会听众所做的工作表达了谢意。

　　表彰Gruentzig

　　Meier 博士表彰了Gruentzig所做的工作并回忆了他在Bachmann治疗中所做的贡献，在随访23年间Bachmann始终拥有一个健康的前降支，一直到2000年4月， 随访发现一个新病变，Meier为他置入了一枚支架，但是后来发生了支架内再狭窄。

　　“道路不是笔直的，那是一个困难的过程。”Meier如是说。King也上台回忆了Gruentzig以及他卓越的想象力。在早期血管成形术刚刚介绍到医疗领域，TCT会议上由Gruentzig主持和参与的课程或会议自然转到病例演示上来。Gruentzig医生的精神将不断推动介入心脏病学领域走向新的辉煌。

　　（阜外心血管病医院　裴汉军　宋会军　高立建　编译）

　　（医心网独家授权资料，转载请注明出自医心网）

Tribute Paid to Andreas Gruentzig

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.

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.