Interventional cardiology in Switzerland 2006

Abstract

Background: Since 1987, a nationwide survey of percutaneous cardiac interventions is performed annually in Switzerland, which allows recognition of contemporary trends and comparison with other countries. Methods: Volume and type of procedures performed during the year 2006 were collected by means of a standardised questionnaire from all adult percutaneous cardiac intervention centres in Switzerland. Results: During the year 2006, 36817 coronary angiographies (CA; 2005: 36436; +1.0%) and 17061 percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI; 2005: 16624; +2.6%) were performed in 27 centres (5 university hospitals, 9 public, nonuniversity hospitals, and 13 private hospitals) by 193 operators (64 of them performing only diagnostic studies). Ninety-three percent of PCI procedures were performed ad hoc, and 78% of them were single-vessel interventions. Stents were used in 89% of all PCI (2005: 91%) procedures with drug-eluting stents (DES) being responsible for the largest share (82% of all stents) (2005: 78%). Emergency procedures (primary PCI or rescue PCI after failed thrombolysis) accounted for 20% of interventions (2005: 19%). Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors were used in 19% of PCI (2005: 23%) procedures. In addition, valvuloplasties of mitral, aortic, and pulmonary valves were performed in 42, 21, and 5 cases, respectively. Finally, percutaneous closure of a patent foramen ovale and an atrial deptal defect were performed in 515 (2005: 510) and in 88 (2005: 94) cases, respectively. Conclusions: The increase in the number of CA and PCI has flattened during 2006. The use of DES remained high, though the previously rapidly growing utilisation of these devices reached a plateau. The number of procedures for the percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale and atrial septal defect has stabilised.