Robotic Assisted Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Hype or Hope?

S ince the first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 1977, interventional cardiology has undergone tremendous evolution in device technology and pharmacotherapy, which has made successful treatment of the most complex lesions possible. Despite the steady progress in nearly all facets of the field, the mechanical aspects of PCI—manipulation of coronary guidewires, balloons, and stents—and the occupational hazards for operators and catheterization laboratory staff remain largely unchanged. The interventional cardiologist works under the guidance of direct fluoroscopy to manipulate intravascular devices, and this requires donning heavy protective garments. Over the course of a career in interventional cardiology, operators are subject to the adverse consequences of cumulative radiation exposure and an increased prevalence of orthopedic injuries.