1980s: Expanding the Practice

The 1970s focused on the major function of the catheterization laboratory: obtaining data needed for the accurate anatomic and physiologic assessment of both congenital and acquired cardiovascular disease. The 1980s saw major growth of therapeutic procedures beginning with the rapid implementation of coronary balloon angioplasty. Complications such as acute/threatened closure remained serious issues, but the introduction of stents improved immediate periprocedural results and decreased the need for urgent bypass surgery. Mayo investigators made important observations on the effect of thrombus in patients with unstable angina and myocardial infarction. There was active involvement in strategies of care for acute myocardial infarction—lytic therapy versus angioplasty.