PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY (PTCA)

Coronary angioplasty, also known as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), is a widely used catheter-based technique for opening blocked arteries and treating coronary artery disease.

Primary angioplasty and stenting are carried out on patients who have ST elevation infarction (having an on-going heart attack). NHC offers this 24-hour emergency coronary angioplasty for patients with on-going heart attack.

NHC performed 3778 coronary angioplasty and stenting procedures in 2005. The mortality rate is 0.18%, well below the America Heart Association/ ACC benchmark of 0.5%-1.4%.

                                                                           No. of PTCA cases  
                                                                    Yearly Trend 1985 - 2005

                                                            Elective PTCA Mortality Rate
                                                            Yearly Trend (2002 - 2005)


Note:
1. AHA/ACC Benchmark: 0.5% - 1.4%; New York State Benchmark 2001 - 2003: 0.36% (Best state in USA for PCI)


NHC has the highest volume of cardiac procedures done in Singapore.  Its four catheterisation laboratories located at Singapore General Hospital block performed over 4500 invasive procedures in 2004. It also performs other interventions of permanent pacemaker and ICD implantations, electrophysiological studies, valvuloplasties and diagnostic cardiac catheterizations.