Percutaneous Revascularization of Coronary Chronic Total Occlusions

The Hybrid Approach and Its Variations for Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Selected patients with coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) benefit with respect to symptoms, quality of life, ischemia reduction, and potentially longevity among other benefits. CTO lesions tend to be the most technically challenging for practicing interventional cardiologists to deliver a successful and safe result and clinical experience for a given patient. The Hybrid algorithm for CTO percutaneous coronary intervention and the subsequent subalgorithms for focused technical challenges have a standardized process and provide a consistent platform for optimized patient care, medical education, and clinical investigation in patients challenged with total occlusion and complex coronary disease.

Procedural outcomes of chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: a report from the NCDR (National Cardiovascular Data Registry)

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to describe contemporary frequency, predictors, and outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the United States.

BACKGROUND

CTO PCI can provide significant clinical benefits, yet there is limited information on its success and safety in unselected patient populations.

METHODS

We analyzed the frequency and outcomes of CTO PCI compared with non-CTO PCI in elective patients, and of successful versus failed CTO PCI between July 1, 2009, and March 31, 2013, in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry. Generalized estimating equations logistic regression modeling was used to generate independent variables associated with procedural success and procedural complications.

RESULTS

During the study period, CTO PCI represented 3.8% of the total PCI volume for stable coronary artery disease (22,365 of 594,510). Overall, patients undergoing CTO PCI required greater contrast volume and longer fluoroscopy time and had lower procedural success (59% vs. 96%, p < 0.001) and higher major adverse cardiac event (1.6% vs. 0.8%, p < 0.001) rates than non-CTO PCI patients. On multivariable analysis, several parameters (including older age, current smoking, previous myocardial infarction, previous coronary artery bypass graft, previous peripheral arterial disease, previous cardiac arrest, right coronary artery CTO target vessel, and less operator experience) were associated with a lower likelihood of CTO PCI procedural success, whereas operators' annual CTO PCI volume was associated with improved success without a significant increase in major complications.

CONCLUSIONS

CTO PCI is currently performed infrequently in the United States for stable coronary artery disease and is associated with lower procedural success and higher complication rates compared with non-CTO PCI. Procedural success was associated with several patient factors and operator experience.

Evidence for Benefit of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronically Occluded Coronary Arteries (CTO) - Clinical and Health Economic Outcomes

Percutaneous revascularisation of a coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) remains one of the technical frontiers of interventional cardiology. CTOs are common, and yet intervention is only attempted in 10 % of cases. CTO procedures are perceived to be technically challenging, lengthy, associated with significant risk and have only limited data to support the practise. Recent technical advances have dramatically increased the success rate, shortened procedural time and improved clinical outcomes. The aim of this article is to critically examine the data that supports CTO intervention, including specifically an appraisal of procedural safety, benefit and overall cost effectiveness.

Percutaneous Treatment of Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion Part 2: Technical Approach

Dual injection is recommended for nearly all chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to determine the optimal crossing strategy and guide wire advancement into the distal true lumen. Strategies that provide enhanced guide catheter support (such as long sheaths, large-bore guiding catheters, use of guide catheter extensions, and anchor techniques) are important for maximising the success rate and efficiency of CTO PCI. Use of a microcatheter or over-the-wire balloon is strongly recommended in CTO PCI for enhancing the penetrating power of the guidewire, enabling change in tip shape and allowing guidewire change (stiff CTO guidewires are not optimal for crossing non-occluded coronary segments). Adherence to a procedural strategy that standardises CTO technique and facilitates procedural success is recommended. Such a strategy would permit stepwise decision-making for antegrade and retrograde methods; inform guidewire selection; and incorporate alternative approaches for instances of initial failure. Given the paucity of long-term outcomes with use of novel crossing techniques (antegrade dissection/re-entry and retrograde), antegrade wire escalation is the preferred CTO crossing technique, if technically feasible. Using measures to minimise radiation exposure (including but not limited to use of 7.5 frames per second fluoroscopy and use of low magnification) and contrast administration is recommended. CTO PCI is best performed at centres with dedicated CTO PCI experience and expertise. Use of crossing difficulty prediction tools, such as the J-CTO score, can facilitate the selection of cases with a high likelihood of quick crossing that can be attempted at less experienced centres.

How opening two chronic total occlusions may be easier than just one

Recanalization of chronic total occlusions (CTOs) via grafts has been described previously. However, the insertion of the graft into the distal vessel is often characterized by an unfavorable entry angle which renders an antegrade approach challenging. In the present case, we describe how retrograde recanalization of the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) via a right internal mammary artery graft facilitated antegrade revascularization of the CTO of the RCA.

Toolbox and Inventory Requirements for Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

More interventional cardiologists are adopting chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in their practice. This article follows the steps of the PCI procedure to describe the toolbox and inventory requirements for successful program development. Recent innovations have allowed adoption of controlled dissection and reentry techniques as a primary revascularization strategy for CTO. Other devices have special rules in CTO PCI. Equipment and techniques to enhance guide catheter support are frequently needed during CTO PCI. Tools for complication management are important components. The necessary tools are listed at the end of the article.

Effectiveness of recanalization of chronic total occlusions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) recanalizations remain extremely challenging procedures. With improvements in technology and techniques, success rates for recanalization of CTO continue to improve. However, the clinical benefits of this practice remain unclear. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of CTO recanalization on clinical outcomes.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies comparing CTO recanalization to medical management. Data were extracted in duplicate and analyzed by a random effects model.

RESULTS

We did not identify any randomized controlled trials or observational studies comparing CTO recanalization to a planned medical management. We did identify 13 observational studies comparing outcomes after successful vs failed CTO recanalization attempt. These studies encompassed 7,288 patients observed over a weighted average follow-up of 6 years. There were 721 (14.3%) deaths of 5,056 patients after successful CTO recanalization compared to 390 deaths (17.5%) of 2,232 patients after failed CTO recanalization (odds ratio [OR] 0.56, 95% CI 0.43-0.72). Successful recanalization was associated with a significant reduction in subsequent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.17-0.27) but not in myocardial infarction (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.44-1.25) or major adverse cardiac events (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.55-1.21). In the 6 studies that reported angina status, successful recanalization was associated with a significant reduction in residual/recurrent angina (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.30-0.67).

CONCLUSIONS

In highly selected patients considered for CTO recanalization, successful attempts appear to be associated with an improvement in mortality and with a reduction for the need for CABG as compared to failed recanalization. However, given the observational nature of the reviewed evidence, randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.