Interventional Cardiology in Switzerland during the Year 2005

Background: Since 1987, a nationwide annual survey of percutaneous cardiac interventions is performed in Switzerland, which allows recognition of contemporary trends and comparison with other countries. Methods: Based on a standardised questionnaire, all adult percutaneous cardiac intervention centres in Switzerland were asked to report on the volume and the circumstances of their activities in 2005. The response rate was 100%. Data were compared with those from previous years. Results: In 2005, 36 436 coronary angiographies (CA) (2004: 35 201; + 3.5%) and 16 624 percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) (2004: 15 680; + 6%) were carried out in 5 university hospitals, 9 public, non-university hospitals, and 13 private hospitals by 205 operators (80 of them performing only diagnostic studies). Ninety-three percent of PCI were performed ad hoc, and 78% were single-vessel interventions. Stents were placed in 91% of PCI (2004: 91%). Drug-eluting stents (DES) were used in 78% of procedures (2004: 66%). Emergency procedures (primary PCI or rescue PCI after failed thrombolysis) accounted for 19% of interventions. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors were used in 23% of PCI (2004: 23%). Myocardial infarction after PCI was reported in 1.1% of PCI, emergency coronary artery bypass grafting was needed in 0.1% of cases, and in-hospital mortality after PCI was 0.5%. In addition, 52 mitral, 11 aortic, and 16 pulmonary balloon valvuloplasties, and 510 interventions for closure of patent foramen ovale (2004: 438) as well as 94 interventions for closure of atrial septal defect (2004: 92) were performed. Conclusions: The number of CA and PCI and especially the utilisation of DES are steadily increasing in Switzerland. The number of interventions for closure of patent foramen ovale and atrial septal defect is still growing, most probably due to a more aggressive diagnostic work-up and treatment of patients with stroke.