Options for percutaneous coronary and peripheral revascularization.

Angioplasty has become an established treatment for both coronary and peripheral atherosclerosis, and a number of new techniques and devices promise to improve the results of percutaneous intervention during the coming decades. It is likely that balloon angioplasty will remain the percutaneous treatment of choice for both coronary and peripheral intervention; however, we look with hope toward the development of new devices that will expand the role of percutaneous angioplasty and improve the long-term success of these procedures. As technical expertise grows with the new procedures, prospective randomized trials comparing them with standard PTCA will be required to enable physicians to judge their clinical utility.