RATES OF CARDIAC-CATHETERIZATION, CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY AND CORONARY-ARTERY BYPASS-SURGERY IN CANADA (1991)

Objective: To determine the rates of and waiting lists for cardiac cat heterization, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) an d open heart surgery among adults in Canada between January 1, 1991 an d December 31, 1991. Furthermore, a comparison was made with a previou s survey performed in 1988. Design: Mail survey. Participants were the directors of all 46 adult cardiac catheterization laboratories and re presentatives from all 33 adult cardiovascular surgery programs in Can ada. Main Results: A total of 69,914 cardiac catheterizations was perf ormed during this period, rate of 256/100,000 population. The mean wai ting times for elective procedures were weighted to allow for the diff erences between centres in the number of patients awaiting the procedu res. The mean wait for elective cardiac catheterization was 8.5 weeks, precisely the same as it had been in 1988. There were 14,617 PTCA pro cedures performed, a rate of 54/100, 000 population. This rate had inc reased from 39 100,000 in the previous survey. The mean wait for elect ive PTCA was 9.2 weeks. A total of 13,618 coronary artery bypass proce dures were performed, a rate of 50/100,000 population. The mean wait f or elective coronary artery bypass surgery was 21.3 weeks, with the lo ngest wait occurring in Quebec at 34 weeks. Conclusion: Rates for card iac catheterization increased by 8.5% between 1988 and 1991. The mean waiting time for this procedure did not change significantly across th e country in this interval. The rate of PTCA increased by 38.5% during this same time interval. The rate of open heart procedures across the country increased by 20.6%. The waiting period for these specialized cardiac procedures remains excessive, particularly for open heart surg ery.