• history

A seismic event in neurointerventional history occurred on March 6, 1990. This was the day that the Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) was first used in the treatment of a patient with a carotid cavernous fistula resulting from a ruptured cavernous aneurysm. This technology defined the era of modern neurointerventional surgery. The collision of clinical curiosity, engineering persistence, and industry support that occurred in that era created a cooperative model that has propelled our field.

Recently, the JNIS received an email from Dr Guido Guglielmi in which he reminded us of this auspicious date and provided us fascinating, as well as humorous, anecdotes of those heady days. He included several photos of his collaborators as well as drawings of the GDC prototype (figure 1). On the day of the 30th anniversary, Dr Guglielmi emailed from his home in Rome many of his collaborators to share his fond recollections and to thank them for their contributions to this monumental accomplishment. This anniversary occurred during the height of the COVID-19 crisis in Italy.