Interventional Cardiology in Switzerland during the Years 2008 and 2009

Background: Since 1987 a nationwide annual survey of percutaneous cardiac interventions has been performed in Switzerland to assess trends in type and frequency of endovascular cardiac procedures. Methods: The volume and type of endovascular cardiac procedures performed during 2008 and 2009 were collected by means of a standardised questionnaire to all adult invasive cardiac intervention centres in Switzerland. Results: The number of coronary angiographies (CA; 2008: n = 39 623; +5.7% compared to 2007; 2009: n = 41 592; +4.1%) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI; 2008: n = 18 099; +6.0%; 2009: n = 19024; +4.3%) continued to increase with the PCI/CA ratio remaining stable at 45.7% during the study period. After a decrease from 2006 to 2007 the proportion of drug-eluting stents (DES) remained unchanged in 2008 and 2009 (72% of stent-based PCI; 2007: 71%). Emergency PCI for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction accounted for 20% and 18%, respectively, of PCI in 2008 and 2009 (2007: 22%). The numbers of procedures for closure of patent foramen ovale (2008: n = 619; 2009: n = 728) and atrial septal defect (2008: n = 103; 2009: n = 152) continued to increase. There was a steep increase in the number of transcatheter aortic valve implantations (TAVI; 2007: n = 18; 2008: n = 127; 2009: n = 277) and in the number of centres offering this procedure (2007: n = 1; 2008: n = 7; 2009: n = 8). In 2009, transcatheter mitral valve repair was introduced in Switzerland (33 procedures performed in three centres). Conclusions: Following a plateau in previous years, both CA and PCI procedures expanded in 2008 and 2009 in Switzerland. After a decrease in 2006, the use of DES has remained stable since and accounted for nearly three quarters of stent-based PCI. Percutaneous interventions for structural heart disease are expanding. In particular, TAVI has been rapidly adopted in Switzerland.