Efficiency, Safety, and Long‐Term Follow‐up of Retrograde Approach for CTO Recanalization: Initial (Belgrade) Experience with International Proctorship

Abstract

Retrograde approach increases the success rate for percutaneous recanalization of complex chronic total occlusion (CTO) of coronary arteries. The purpose of this study was to describe our initial experience of retrograde percutaneous coronary intervention for CTO program, focusing on its safety and feasibility, and long-term clinical follow-up. The study was a single center retrospective registry which included a total of 40 patients, of 590 CTO treated patients (6.7%), between January 2008 and October 2011, who underwent retrograde approach for CTO recanalization. Mean occlusion duration was 37.8 ± 40.3 months. Overall success recanalization rate was 87.5% (35/40). Septal collaterals were used to access the occlusion in all cases (100%). Retrograde guidewire crossing of collateral channels was successful in 36/40 (90.0%) patients with success rate of CTO recanalization in these patients of 97.2%. Retrograde approach as the primary strategy was applied in 23/40 (57.5%) patients, retrograde approach immediately after antegrade failure attempt was performed in 8/40 (20.0%) patients, and retrograde approach as elective procedure, after previously failed antegrade attempt, was performed in 9/40 (22.5%) patients. The success rate of these strategies was: 87.0% (20/23 patients) for primary, 87.5% (7/8 patients) for retrograde immediately after antegrade failure, and 88.9% (8/9 patients) for retrograde after previous failed antegrade attempt, respectively. Total in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rate was 5.0% (2 non-Q-wave myocardial infarctions). The MACE free survival at median follow-up of 20 months was 89% (95% CI: 78-100%). This study has demonstrated that adequate training and international proctorship for this complex and demanding technique is a necessity and prerequisite to achieve high overall success rates, with acceptable complication rates and excellent long-term survival rate.