Interventional cardiology in Europe 1995

The working group Coronary Circulation of the European Society of Cardiolog y conducts, with the support of the national societies of cardiology, an an nual survey on cardiac interventions in Europe. This report is the fourth c onsecutive summary on cardiac interventions in Europe and gives an overview of interventional cardiology activities during 1995 in 30 member countries of the European Society of Cardiology, representing a population of 550 mi llion people. Coronary angiography A total of 1 065 485 diagnostic coronary angiograms we re reported, a 15% increase compared with 1994. The mean incidence of coron ary angiograms increased to 1937 per 10(6) inhabitants, ranging from 4667 p er 10(6) inhabitants in Germany to 67 per 10(6) inhabitants in Romania. Coronary angioplasty A total of 278 982 coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedu res were reported, an increase of 24% compared with 1994. The mean incidenc e of coronary angioplasty per capita was 507 per 10(6) inhabitants, ranging from 1358 per 10(6) inhabitants in Germany to 12 per 10(6) inhabitants in Romania. The ratio of PTCAs per coronary angiogram was 0.26, ranging from 0 .40 in the Netherlands to 0.08 in Cyprus. Ad hoc PTCA (combined diagnostic angiography and PTCA) accounted for 24% of all PTCA cases. The majority (85 %) of PTCA procedures were restricted to a single vessel. Coronary stenting . Coronary stents were used in 80 383 coronary interventions, an increase of 272% compared with 1994, representing the fastest growth. The European mean ratio of coronary stenting per PTCA procedure was 0.29. Other new devices. Other new interventional therapeutic devices were employed in 9798 cases, a ccounting for 3.5% of all coronary interventions. Coronary ultrasound was u sed in 4787 (1.7%) and coronary angioscopy in 543 interventions (0.2%). Non-coronary interventions Balloon valvuloplasty remained the most frequent non-coronary intervention during 1995 with a total of 2715 mitral, 615 pul monary, and 719 aortic valvuloplasties. Catheterization facilities There were a mean of 2.5 diagnostic cardiac cath eterization institutions with a mean of 3.4 diagnostic laboratories per 10( 6) inhabitants in Europe. The number of PTCA institutions and laboratories were a mean of 0.7 and 0.9 per 10(6) inhabitants, respectively. The mean nu mbers of trained operators were 11 for diagnostic cardiac catheterization a nd eight for PTCA per 10(6) inhabitants. On average, 704 yearly coronary an giograms per diagnostic catheterization laboratory and 203 yearly PTCAs per PTCA laboratory were reported in Europe. The average operator performed 21 0 coronary angiograms and 78 PTCAs per year. Conclusions During 1995, coronary angiography increased at a mean annual ra te of 10% and coronary angioplasty at a mean annual rate of nearly 20% in E urope. Coronary angioplasty was employed on a single vessel per procedure i n the majority of cases. Coronary stenting remained the fastest growing pro cedure in interventional cardiology and the European mean ratio of coronary stenting per PTCA increased to 0.29. The ratio of PTCA to CABG further inc reased to 1.4:1. New devices were reserved for niche indications and balloo n valvuloplasty was the most frequent non-coronary intervention.