60 years of transluminal angioplasty: The epic tale of two pioneers, Dotter & Grüntzig

Voices from the past, messages to build the future

Chiara De Biase

Interventional cardiologist / Cardiologist

CLINIQUE PASTEUR - Toulouse, France

Prof. Jean Marco

Retired interventional cardiologist - Martres Tolosane, France

Episode #1 - A journey with Charles Dotter: his contribution to transluminal angioplasty

In this video Chiara De Biase and Jean Marco discuss Dotter's groundbreaking contributions, including the first interventional transluminal angioplasty in 1964, which revolutionized vascular medicine. Despite his visionary work, his name was nearly forgotten...

Episode #2 - Why was Dotter's disruptive innovation initially rejected?

In this second episode, Chiara De Biase and Jean Marco highlight three key reasons for Charles Dotter's failure to spread his method widely in the USA. Firstly, his position as a radiologist, not a vascular surgeon; secondly, his aggressive presentation of the technique, coupled with limited patient data; and lastly, his unconventional approach to developing tools and the lack of clear objectives.

Episode #3 - How did Dotter's method make its way to Europe and result in Andreas Grüntzig’s balloon catheter?

In this third episode, Chiara De Biase and Jean Marco discuss how Eberhard Zeitler, inspired by Dotter's work, introduced the method in Germany. Grüntzig, known for his solid medical background and empathetic demeanor, received crucial support from colleagues.

Episode #4 - From the legs to coronaries: how Andreas Grüntzig reached his dream

In this final episode, Chiara De Biase and Jean Marco discuss how Andreas Grüntzig brought transluminal angioplasty to Europe from Charles Dotter's initial work in the US, and how he finally succeeded in performing the first percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in September 1977.

These podcast series are also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts