Third-generation drug-eluting stents: can they be used in chronic total occlusions?

The Canadian Contribution to Science, Techniques, Technology, and Education in Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Chronic total occlusions are considered the most complex coronary lesions in interventional cardiology. This article reviews the Canadian clinical and academic contributions to this field, including innovative procedural techniques, teaching and proctoring, clinical research, and the development of novel tools and therapies.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Chronic Total Occlusion

Percutaneous coronary intervention in chronic total occlusion is a rapidly evolving area, being considered the last frontier of interventional cardiology. In recent years, the development of new techniques and equipment, as well as the training of specialized personnel, increased their success rates, making it the most predictable procedure available. Although the number of randomized and controlled studies is still limited, results from large multicentered registries allow us to safely offer this intervention to patients, as another treatment option along with the optimized drug treatment and myocardial revascularization surgery. This review summarizes the last and most relevant publications in the subject in order to provide an overall view of the field’s current status.