[Cardiac interventions in Switzerland 1993]

As in the previous years, a survey of all cardiac invasive, interventional and surgical procedures was carried out 1993 by a detailed questionnaire, which was sent to all Swiss centers. The resulting data are presented here for the whole of Switzerland and per individual center. The outstanding findings are: For the first time, more coronary angioplasties than coronary bypass graft operations were performed. At the same time, angioplasty in two or more vessels during the same session was attempted in 10% only. Overall the coronary stent represents the most frequently used new device in interventional cardiology in Switzerland, but large differences regarding the incidence of stent implantations exist among the centers. Compared with the public or university hospitals, the private centers have increased their interventional and surgical volume dramatically during the past years.