History The first percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed in 1977, by Dr. Andreas Gruentzig. This marked the birth of interventional cardiology, although catheter-based alternatives to valvuloplasties had been explored (unsuccessfully) since the 1960s. The first successful percutaneous mitral (1982) and aortic valvuloplasties were performed in the 1980’s, although these procedures did not achieve widespread […]