Angioplasty is now the most common coronary procedure,
overtaking coronary artery bypass graft operations, a more invasive
procedure that has been used since the 1960s, according to a new
report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare.
The report, Coronary Angioplasty in Australia 1999,
marks 20 years of angioplasty in Australia.
The procedure accounted for almost 19,500 operations in 1999 or
about 53 operations per day. This is a 7% increase over the
previous year. Angioplasty involves insertion of a balloon into a
coronary artery, which is then inflated to expand the artery and
restore adequate blood flow.
The technique is less invasive than coronary artery bypass
grafting (which requires opening of a patient's chest), which
accounted for about 17,321 operations in 1999.
Angioplasty is usually associated with the use of a coronary
stent. Co-author of the report, Joanne Davies, said there had also
been a sharp increase in the use of coronary stents in heart
procedures since 1993.
'Stents-metal mesh tubes used to keep the arteries open-were
inserted in 92% of coronary angioplasty patients in 1999, compared
with 3% of patients six years earlier,' Ms Davies said.
'Angioplasty is three times as common in men as it is in women,
and most patients are between 60 and 80 years old.'
The Heart Foundation's Director of Health, Medical and
Scientific Affairs, Professor Andrew Tonkin, said that coronary
angioplasty was one of the 'great recent advances against
Australia's biggest epidemic'.
The report shows there were almost 19,200 hospitalisations
involving coronary angioplasty procedures, with an average length
of stay of 3.8 days. Angina remains the main reason for undergoing
coronary angioplasty. However, the procedure is also being
increasingly used in the early treatment of heart attacks.
The treatment is very successful, with over 96% of patients
treated in 1999 being discharged from hospital with an adequate
opening of the affected arteries and no angina or other
complications.
Coronary Angioplasty in Australia 1999 is the latest in
a series of reports tracking cardiac procedures in Australia to
keep up with important developments that introduce significant
changes in practice. The report has been jointly produced by the
AIHW and the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
7 May 2002
Further information: Ms Joanne Davies, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1067 or 0413 226 669 (mobile), or Professor Andrew
Tonkin, NHF, contact Donna Le Page, tel. 0412 797 937
(mobile).
Media copies of the report: Publications Officer, tel. 02
6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for details.