Primary report: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/449946/ . A. R. Grüntzig, A. Senning and W. E. Siegenthaler, New England Journal of Medicine 301(2), 61–68, 12 July 1979; DOI doi.org/10.1056/NEJM197907123010201 . Abstract describes the balloon catheter, a 50-patient series and paired stenosis/pressure-gradient observations, alongside failures and emergency bypasses. Published initials retained. This historical series does not establish modern comparative efficacy.