Interventional Cardiology in Switzerland during the Year 2007

Summary Background: Since 1987, a nationwide annual survey of percutaneous cardiac interventions is performed in Switzerland in order to assess trends with respect to type and frequency of endovascular cardiac procedures. Methods: Volume and type of endovascular procedures performed during the year 2007 were collected, by means of a standardised questionnaire, from all adult invasive cardiac intervention centres in Switzerland. Results: A total of 37489 coronary angiographies (CA; 2006: 36817; +1.8%) and 17080 percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI; 2006: 17061; +0.1%) were performed in 28 centres (5 university, 10 public, nonuniversity, and 13 private hospitals). Most PCI (92%) were performed ad hoc, and 80% of them were single vessel interventions. Stents were used in 91% of all PCI (2006: 89%). Drug-eluting stents (DES) were predominantly used although at a lower rate than during the previous year (2007: 71% of all stents; 2006: 82%). Emergency PCI for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction accounted for 22% of PCIs (2006: 20%). Whereas the numbers of valvuloplasties of the mitral (n = 40), aortic (n = 20), and pulmonary (n = 6) valves did not differ from previous years, transcatheter aortic valve implantation was introduced as a new therapeutic intervention (n = 18). The number of procedures for patent foramen ovale (PFO; n = 624; 2006: 515) and atrial septal defect closure (n = 116; 2006: 88) continued to increase. Conclusions:In 2007, the increase in the number of CA and PCI continued to flatten but did not decrease in Switzerland. The use of DES remained high, although there was a decrease compared to the previous year. In contrast, procedures for percutaneous PFO and atrial septal defect closure were performed with increasing frequency. During that year, transcatheter aortic valve implantation was introduced.