Abstract
A total of 922,687 coronary angiograms were reported during 1994, representing an increase of 22% compared with 1993 and of 35% compared with 1992. The mean incidence of coronary angiograms was 1881/10(6) inhabitants, ranging from 4417/10(6) inhabitants in Germany to 35/10(6) inhabitants in Romania, Germany, France, Great Britain, and Italy with 50% of the European population performed 73% of all cardiac interventions. During 1994, a total of 224,722 coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedures were reported in Europe, an increase of 22% compared with 1993 and of 52% compared with 1992. Adjusted per capita, the mean incidence of coronary angioplasty was 458/10(6) inhabitants, ranging from 1091/10(6) inhabitants in Germany to 6/10(6) inhabitants in Romania. On average, the ratio PTCA per coronary angiogram was 0.24, ranging from 0.37 in the Netherlands to 0.06 in Cyprus. Ad hoc PTCA accounted for 22% of all PTCA cases. The majority (81%) of PTCAs were restricted to a single vessel. Major complications were reported in 2% of patients undergoing PTCA, including death (0.3%), myocardial infarction (1.0%) and need for emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (0.7%). Coronary stents were utilized in 21,599 coronary interventions during 1994, an increase of 235% compared with 1993 and thus representing the fastest growth in interventional cardiology. The number of European countries employing stents during coronary angioplasty grew from 14 during 1993 to 24 during 1994. Elective use (38%) became the most frequent indication for coronary stenting during 1994, replacing bail-out stenting as the primary indication during 1993. Other new interventional therapeutic devices were employed in 8827 cases. Only the Rotablator was used more frequently during 1994 as compared with 1993. All other new therapeutic devices showed a decline. Coronary ultrasound was utilized in 3032 interventions and coronary angioscopy in 304 cases during 1994. NON-CORONARY INTERVENTIONS: Valvuloplasty remained the most frequent non-coronary intervention in Europe during 1994 with a total of 2622 mitral. 609 pulmonary and 506 aortic valvuloplasties. The number of facilities per 10(6) inhabitants performing invasive cardiac procedures in Europe during 1994 ranged from 7.7 in Iceland to 0.2 in Romania (European mean 2.9). The number of trained operators per 10(6) inhabitants ranged from 24 in Germany to 0.4 in Romania (European mean 10). During 1994, a mean of 701 coronary angiograms and 170 PTCAs were performed per catheterization facility in Europe (range: 1052 coronary angiograms and 293 PTCAs per facility in Norway to 218 coronary angiograms and 37 PTCAs per facility in Romania). The number of both coronary angiograms and coronary angioplasties continues to grow at an annual rate of approximately 20% in Europe. There is a wide range in the amount of revascularization procedures performed between western and eastern European countries. However, countries with the lowest numbers of coronary angiograms and coronary angioplasties, e.g. Romania, also show the fastest annual growth. About one quarter of all patients undergoing coronary angiography are subsequently revascularized by coronary angioplasty. (ABSTRACT TRUN
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