non-CTO Lesions Research Articles

Virtual histology intravascular ultrasound comparison of coronary chronic total occlusions versus non-occlusive lesions

To use virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) to assess the differences in tissue composition between chronic total occlusions (CTO) and non-occlusive lesions, especially in vivo. We compared 50 CTOs (49 patients) after guidewire crossing with 41 non-occlusive lesions (41 patients, 25 with unstable angina and 16 with stable angina). Overall, the percentage of necrotic core in the CTO segments was similar to non-occlusive lesions (35.6 vs. 38.7 %, p = 0.18 at the maximum necrotic core site; 24.2 vs. 23.7 %, p = 0.8 in mean analysis over the entire segment length). However, the percentage of dense calcium in CTO segments was less than in non-occlusive lesions (10.6 vs. 14.8 %, p = 0.025 at the maximum necrotic core site; 7.6 vs. 11.4 %, p = 0.036 in mean analysis over the entire segment length). Finally, the necrotic core/dense calcium ratio tended to be larger in the CTO segment than in non-occlusive lesions (2.94 vs. 2.35, p = 0.082 at the maximum necrotic core site; 3.05 vs. 2.03, p = 0.005 in mean analysis over the entire segment length). Overall, 42 (84 %) CTOs contained a fibroatheroma compared to 40 (97 %) of non-occulsive stenoses. The percentage of necrotic core in CTOs with a fibroathroma (39.0 %) was less than non-occlusive stenoses with a VH-thin cap fibroathroma (44.4 %, p = 0.017) and greater than non-occlusive stenoses with a VH-thick cap fibroathroma (33.5 %, p = 0.022) at maximum necrotic core site. These findings suggest that the morphological characteristics of most CTOs were similar as compared with non-CTO lesions and CTOs evolved from fibroatheromas.

Results of percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusions of coronary arteries: a single center report

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTOs) is associated with lower rates of procedural success and higher complication rates compared with PCIs in non-CTO lesions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between lesion characteristics and procedural success rates and in-hospital outcomes after PCI for CTO with novel equipment. We evaluated the prospectively entered data of 63 consecutive patients undergoing PCI for CTO at our institute between August 2009 and June 2012. A total of 63 patients (mean age: 64±11, 71% male) with one CTO lesion each underwent PCI. There were 46 patients (mean age: 63±10, 70% male) in the CTO success group and 17 patients (mean age: 65±13, 76.5% male) in the CTO failure group. Successful revascularization was achieved in 73% of patients. We used antegrade approach in 61 cases and retrograde approach in 2 cases. Our predominant strategy was single-wire technique, which was used in 54 cases (85.7%), followed by parallel-wire technique in 7 cases (11.1%). Moderate-to-severe tortuosity (odds ratio [OR]: 9.732, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.783-53.115, p=0.009) and occlusion duration (OR: 1.536, 95% CI: 1.178-2.001, p=0.002) were independent predictors of procedural failure in the multivariate analysis. No in-hospital major cardiac events occurred. We have reported a study with a relatively high success rate of PCI with very low procedural and in-hospital complications. Moderate-to-severe tortuosity was observed as the most challenging problem despite the utilisation of novel equipment and techniques for CTO recanalization.

Different vessel response between chronic total occlusions and non-CTO lesion after Sirolimus-eluting stent implantation: a serial optical coherence tomography study

ObjectivesTo investigate the neointimal coverage and malapposition of sirolimus-eluting stent in treatment of CTOs and non-CTO lesions (including lipid-rich plaque and non-lipid-rich plaque) by optical coherence tomography.MethodsWe enrolled 64 patients...

Angiographic patterns of restenosis after percutaneous intervention of chronic total occlusive lesions with drug-eluting stents

BackgroundAlthough the success rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusive (CTO) lesions is rising recently, the nature and behavior of these revascularized lesions in the real-world practice are unknown. MethodsData was collected from a prospective cohort of patients with successfully revascularized CTO lesions using drug-eluting stent (DES). Among these, patients with angiographical in-stent restenosis (ISR) were analyzed. Results58% (n=149) of the total patients (n=255) with successful PCI of CTO received 6–9months' angiographical follow-up. Angiographic ISR was identified in 36 lesions from 36 patients. There was a strong tendency towards diffuse ISR (61% of total ISR lesions) in these lesions, as compared with ISR after implantation of DES for non-CTO lesion in previous literatures. Multivariate analysis showed that post-procedural minimal lumen diameter (MLD) and total stent length were the only reliable predictors of diffuse ISR (HR 0.527 per 0.5mm increment of MLD, HR 1.262 per 10mm increment of stent length). Compared with the group with larger post-procedural MLD (>1.9mm) and shorter stent length (≤55mm), the group with smaller post-procedural MLD (≤1.9mm) and longer stent length (>55mm) carried a 9-fold higher risk of diffuse restenosis. In addition, diffuse ISR was more frequently associated with symptoms or signs of myocardial ischemia. ConclusionRevascularized CTO lesions using DES may carry a high risk of diffuse ISR, which is associated with more frequent myocardial ischemia compared with focal ISR. Post-procedural MLD and total stent length are significant predictors of these types of ISR after successful CTO intervention.

Contemporary success and complication rates of percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total coronary occlusions: results from the ALKK quality control registry of 2006

Despite successful prevention of lesion recurrence by drug-eluting stents (DES), and the advancement in procedural techniques in the treatment of chronic total coronary occlusions (CTO), the number of CTOs treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still low as compared to their prevalence. This study aims to assess the outcome of PCI for CTOs in a contemporary survey of PCI in interventional centres in Germany. The basis of this analysis is the 2006 quality assessment database of PCI conducted by the ALKK (working group of cardiology centres). Thirty-five centres contributed to this database, representing about 10% of all interventional centres of Germany. From a total of 20,502 patients, 8,882 patients with stable angina were selected. Of these 674 patients (7.6%) underwent PCI for a CTO. Their procedural characteristics and the hospital outcome were compared with patients treated for non-occlusive lesions. As compared to non-occlusive lesions, less patients underwent ad hoc PCI for a CTO. The fluoroscopy time was almost double of that in non-occlusive lesions, and contrast usage was significantly higher. The success rate was 60.1% as compared to 97.3% (p<0.001). Severe intraprocedural and in-hospital complications were similar for CTO and non-CTO lesions. Almost all patients with a CTO received a stent; DES were used in 53.4%, which was higher than the rate in non-CTO lesions (38.9%; p<0.001). Although the success rate for PCI in CTOs is still well below that in non-occlusive lesions, this procedure is safe, encouraging its wider application. The low rate of DES use did not reflect the evidence for DES in CTOs.

Success rates of percutaneous coronary intervention of chronic total occlusions and long-term survival in patients with diabetes mellitus

The objectives of this study were to evaluate angiographic and clinical outcomes among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for a chronic total occlusion (CTO). We compared them with matched patients undergoing PCI of a non-CTO lesion. All patients had documented DM. Matching was performed using a propensity score for CTO. There were 506 patients with DM and CTO who were matched with a non-CTO group. Results showed that angiographic success rates were lower with CTO (75% vs. 93%, p<0.001). In-hospital major adverse cardiac event (MACE - death, urgent bypass surgery, Q-wave myocardial infarction or target vessel revascularisation) rates were equivalent (CTO 3.2% vs. non-CTO 2.6%, p=0.57). Survival was not different five years after revascularisation of CTO (75%) vs. non-CTO (79%) (p=0.20). In addition, when DM patients with CTO were analysed according to angiographic success of PCI, there were no significant differences in either in-hospital (success 1.6% vs. failure 2.4%, p=0.7) or 1-year mortality (success 22.2% vs. failure 26.8%, p=0.3). We conclude that PCI of CTO is safe in patients with DM. Angiographic failure is not associated with an increase in MACE rates or mortality as compared to matched non-CTO patients. However, there is not a measurable improvement in survival in this DM-CTO population.

Recent Trends in the Percutaneous Treatment of Chronic Total Coronary Occlusions

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTOs) has a lower success rate than PCI for non-CTO lesions. We sought to determine trends in the treatment of CTOs within the current interventional era. Using 4 sequential recruitment waves of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Dynamic Registry, we assessed the relative prevalence and success rates in treating CTO (n=371) versus non-CTO (n=4,802) lesions over a 7-year period (1997 to 2004). Characteristics of attempted lesions and factors associated with PCI outcome were evaluated. CTO lesion attempts decreased by 41% over time, from 9.6% (1997 to 1998) to 5.7% (2004, p<0.0001 for trend). More contemporary CTO lesions were longer (22.4 vs 17.0 mm, p=0.006 for trend), had thrombus less often (21.3% vs 35.4%, p=0.03 for trend), and were more often treated with stents (69.8% vs 45.4% p=0.02). The rate of successful intervention for CTO lesions decreased nonsignificantly during this time, from 79.7% to 71.4% (p=0.18). Using multivariable analysis, female gender (adjusted odds ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.20 to 0.88, p=0.02), and thrombus (adjusted odds ratio 0.31, 95% confidence interval 0.15 to 0.61, p=0.0008) were associated with higher success rates, whereas the presence of severe noncardiac disease (adjusted odds ratio 1.91, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 3.45, p=0.03) was associated with a higher risk for PCI failure. Recruitment wave and patient age were not independently related to lesion success. In conclusion, during the PCI period of 1997 to 2004, CTO lesions were attempted less frequently and success rates did not increase, indicating a need for new operator techniques or device technologies to treat this important lesion subset by a percutaneous approach.

Chronic Total Occlusions – The Challenge Continues

Chronic total occlusions (CTOs) remain one of the greatest challenges facing interventional cardiologists and represent 10-15% of all percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures performed.1 Not only are procedures more prolonged and involve additional radiation exposure, but audit data from the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society for 2005 reported a procedural success of only 68% compared with 95% for non-CTO lesions.2 Many patients are therefore left untreated or referred for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.