Subintimal Tracking And Re-entry Research Articles

Use of Subintimal Tracking and Re-entry Technique as a Bailout After Coronary Dissection

Subintimal tracking and re-entry (STAR), a technique initially described by Colombo et al,1 is performed by rapidly advancing a polymer-jacketed guidewire through the occlusion segment of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) until it is forced back into the true lumen, often at a branch point. It is occasionally used during CTO intervention as a bailout technique but could also be useful during emergency situations such as iatrogenic vessel dissection. Herein, we report 2 cases where STAR was used as a bailout.

P5748Impact of specific crossing techniques in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention on recovery of absolute myocardial perfusion

Abstract Background Multiple techniques in chronic coronary total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have been developed to cross CTOs. Purpose To compare recovery of quantitative myocardial blood flow (MBF) after different CTO PCI techniques. Methods Consecutive patients with [15O]H2O positron emission tomography perfusion imaging before and three months after successful CTO PCI were included. Change in quantitative hyperemic MBF, coronary flow reserve (CFR) and perfusion defect size were compared between antegrade wire escalation (AWE), retrograde wire escalation (RWE), antegrade dissection and reentry (ADR) and retrograde dissection and reentry (RDR), and further between specific subintimal crossing and reentry techniques. Results 193 patients were treated with AWE (N=90), RWE (N=24), ADR (N=35) and RDR (N=44). Significant improvements (all p<0.01) in hyperemic MBF (1.19±0.77, 0.94±0.65, 1.09±0.63, and 1.02±0.75 mL min–1 g–1, respectively), CFR (1.34±1.08, 1.14±1.09, 1.31±0.96, and 1.24±0.99, respectively), and perfusion defect size (3.17±2.13, 3.00±2.21, 2.74±2.09, and 2.93±1.92 segments, respectively) were comparable between the four approaches (p=0.40, p=0.84, and p=0.77, respectively). Recovery of hyperemic MBF was less pronounced after subintimal crossing with a knuckle-wire-technique compared to the use of CrossBoss in controlled ADR and RDR (p=0.02), and less after reentry with subintimal tracking and reentry (STAR) in ADR compared with controlled ADR (Stingray) or limited antegrade subintimal tracking (LAST) (p=0.02 and p<0.01). Conclusions Recovery of hyperemic MBF, CFR, and perfusion defect size was significant after CTO PCI and comparable between different crossing techniques. Improvement of hyperemic MBF was inferior after using the knuckle-wire subintimal crossing technique and STAR compared to other subintimal crossing and reentry techniques. Acknowledgement/Funding None

Revascularization of coronary chronic total occlusions with subintimal tracking and reentry followed by deferred stenting: Experience from a high-volume referral center.

To determine whether a variation of an abandoned antegrade percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) technique, termed subintimal tracking and reentry (STAR), could be a safe and effective strategy to contend with complex coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) when other strategies fail. Complex CTOs require advanced techniques such as the retrograde approach, which is associated with higher complication rates than antegrade strategies. The medical records of 32 consecutive patients who underwent deferred stenting following STAR (DSS) between January 2015 and May 2017 at a high-volume referral center were retrospectively reviewed. The primary endpoint was technical success at the time of a second procedure following STAR-based balloon angioplasty, defined as successful stenting or the presence of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Study Group (TIMI) 3 flow with <50% residual stenosis if the vessel caliber was inappropriate for stenting. Of 781 CTO PCI procedures, STAR was performed in 45 (5.8%) and DSS in 32 (4.1%), constituting the analysis cohort. The median Japanese-CTO score was 2.5 [interquartile range (IQR) 1.0-3.0]. Median inter-procedure time was 2.4 months [1.7-3.3 months]. Technical success was achieved in 28 (88%) patients; 23 (72%) patients were treated with stents and 5 (16%) with balloon angioplasty alone. Combined complications included one clinical perforation, one MI, and one stent thrombosis. Deferred stenting after subintimal plaque modification via the STAR technique is a safe and effective strategy to contend with complex CTO lesions when other techniques are prohibitively high risk or have failed.

Contrast modulation in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.

The intraplaque injection of contrast media in the recanalization of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) has witnessed a dynamic journey since its initial formulation. Contrast-guided subintimal tracking and re-entry (STAR) was the first contrast modulation technique for CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). With this technique, a forceful injection of a large volume of contrast (3-4 mL) was performed in order to achieve hydraulic recanalization of the vessel. This approach was associated with extensive vessel injury and unpredictable true lumen re-entry, which were in turn linked to high rates of restenosis on follow-up. In the subsequent iteration, called the "microchannel technique", a smaller amount of contrast media (1 mL) was gently injected inside the plaque to modify its compliance by softening and recruiting loose tissue, which facilitated subsequent true-to-true lumen crossing with a polymer-jacketed wire along paths of least resistance. The microchannel technique has later evolved into what is currently known as the "Carlino technique", where a minimal volume of contrast media (<0.5 mL) is gently injected inside the occlusion, with the goal of modifying plaque compliance to facilitate guidewire and microcatheter advancement through a fibrocalcific plaque. The Carlino technique is now widely utilized to allow negotiation of difficult-to-cross occlusions, particularly by the "hybrid operators", with high success rates and low incidence of complications. The purpose of this article is to provide a historical perspective on the use of contrast modulation in CTO PCI, its pathophysiological basis, as well as technical recommendations on how and when to perform these maneuvers.

Procedural and longer-term outcomes of wire- versus device-based antegrade dissection and re-entry techniques for the percutaneous revascularization of coronary chronic total occlusions

BackgroundThere are few data regarding the procedural and follow-up outcomes of different antegrade dissection/re-entry (ADR) techniques for chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). MethodsWe compiled a multicenter registry of consecutive patients undergoing ADR-based CTO PCI at four high-volume specialized institutions. Patients were divided according to the specific ADR technique used: subintimal tracking and re-entry (STAR), limited antegrade subintimal tracking (LAST), or device-based with the CrossBoss/Stingray system (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE: cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction and target-vessel revascularization) on follow-up were the main outcome of this study. Independent predictors of MACE were sought with Cox regression analysis. ResultsA total of 223 patients were included (STAR n=39, LAST n=68, CrossBoss/Stingray n=116). Baseline characteristics were similar across groups. Technical and procedural success was lower with STAR (59% and 59%), as compared with LAST (96% and 96%) and CrossBoss/Stingray (89% and 87%; p<0.001 for both). At 24-month follow-up, MACE rates were higher in STAR (15.4%) and LAST (17.5%), as compared with device-based ADR with CrossBoss/Stingray (4.3%, p=0.02), driven by TVR (7.7% vs. 15.5% vs. 3.1%, respectively; p=0.02). Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified wire-based ADR (STAR and LAST) and total stent length as independent predictors of MACE. ConclusionsIn this multicenter cohort of patients undergoing CTO PCI with ADR techniques, STAR had lower success rates, as compared with the CrossBoss/Stingray system and LAST. The CrossBoss/Stingray system was independently associated with lower risk of MACE on follow-up, as compared with wire-based ADR techniques.

Predictors of restenosis following contemporary subintimal tracking and reentry technique: The importance of final TIMI flow grade.

To identify predictors of restenosis after recanalization of chronic total occlusions (CTOs) with the Subintimal Tracking And Reentry (STAR) technique. STAR is associated with high rates of restenosis but the associated factors are not clear. Understanding the underlying mechanisms may be important to improve STAR outcomes and possibly other contemporary CTO recanalization techniques utilizing extensive subintimal dissection and stenting. We retrospectively analyzed 211 lesions that underwent a STAR procedure (between 2002 and 2013) with a final Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade 2 or 3. One-hundred and nineteen lesions that received drug eluting stents (DES) and underwent follow-up angiography were included in the final analysis. Of the 119 lesions treated with DES following STAR, 75 restenoses were observed (63.0%). Utilizing multivariate analysis, TIMI flow grade in the recanalized artery following stent implantation at the end of the index procedure was the only independent predictor of restenosis. Following recanalization of a CTO with STAR, final TIMI flow predicted future restenosis or reocclusion. As a bailout technique, STAR resulted in a high acute success rate with good safety and acceptable long-term results. When poor flow is observed following recanalization, and prior to stent implantation, a two-step strategy whereby a second procedure is performed at an interval to maximize coronary flow at the end of the procedure may be considered with the goal to reduce the risk of future restenosis or total vessel occlusion following STAR.

Long-term Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes of the Mini-STAR Technique as a Bailout Strategy for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Chronic Total Occlusion

BackgroundA promising variant of the subintimal tracking and re-entry (STAR) technique, called “mini-STAR,” has been recently described as a successful rescue technique after revascularization failure by conventional techniques for coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO). MethodsThe current study enrolled patients with CTO who underwent successful revascularization by the mini-STAR technique as a bailout strategy. Two-year clinical follow-up and angiographic control procedures were performed. ResultsFrom March 2009-September 2011, 100 of 117 patients (mean age, 61.4 ± 10.9 years) underwent successful recanalization of CTO by the mini-STAR technique as a bailout strategy. Drug-eluting stents (DESs) were implanted in all cases. At 2-year follow-up, the major adverse cardiac events (MACE)-free survival was 89.2%, with a target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate of 6.5%. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 72% of patients. CTO target lesion restenosis was observed in 25% of patients, whereas the reocclusion rate was 12.5%. At multivariate Cox analysis, final thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow < grade 3 was related to occurrence of MACE (hazard ratio, 5.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-24.4; P = 0.013). Final TIMI flow < grade 3 (odds ratio [OR], 5.41; 95% CI, 1.05-27.73; P = 0.043) and CTO stent length (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93-0.99; P = 0.017) were independent predictors of reocclusion. The independent variables related to restenosis were first-generation DESs (OR, 4.10; 95% CI, 1.23-13.64; P = 0.022) and CTO stent length (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99; P = 0.027). ConclusionsAs bailout strategy for CTO revascularization, the mini-STAR technique shows low MACE and TLR rates at long-term follow-up.

A Complex Dissected Chronic Occlusion: Targeted Balloon Dilatation of False Lumen to Access True Lumen, Combined Localized Subintimal Tracking and Re-Entry, Parallel Wire, Contralateral Injection and a Useful Antegrade Lumen Re-Entry Technique

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) angioplasty is one of the most challenging procedures remaining for the interventional operator. Recanalizing CTOs can improve exercise capacity, symptoms, left ventricular function and possibly reduce mortality. Multiple strategies such as escalating wire, parallel wire, see-saw, contralateral injection, subintimal tracking and re-entry (STAR), retrograde wire techniques (controlled antegrade retrograde subintimal tracking, CART), reverse CART, confluent balloon, rendezvous in coronary, and other techniques have all been described. Selection of the most appropriate approach is based on assessment of vessel course, length of occluded segment, presence of bridging collaterals, presence of bifurcating side branches at the occlusion site, and other variables. Today, with significant operator expertise and the use of available techniques, the literature reports a 50–95% success rate for recanalizing CTOs.

Mini‐STAR as bail‐out strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention of chronic total occlusion

Although the advancement of the equipment and the presence of innovative techniques, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) continues to be affected by lower procedural success in comparison with non occluded vessel PCI. We describe a new technique for the treatment of coronary CTO which utilizes a new generation of polymeric wires. From March 2009 to June 2010 different strategies were adopted as "bail out" after an initial attempt failed in 117 consecutive CTO lesions. Among these, conventional strategies (CS) such as parallel wire, sub-intimal tracking and re-entry (STAR), microchannel technique, intracoronary ultrasound guided revascularization and anchor balloon, were used in 75 cases (64.1%), while in the remaining a new technique, the "mini-STAR," was used (39.9%). Although no substantial differences were observed regarding the distribution of clinical features and angiographic lesions characteristics between the populations, mini-STAR was able to achieve a higher rate of procedural success in comparison with other CS (97.6% vs. 52%, P < 0.001) with lower contrast agent use (442 ± 259 cm(3) vs. 561 ± 243 cm(3), P = 0.01) and shorter procedural and fluoroscopy times (122 ± 61 vs. 157 ± 74 min, P = 0.009 and 60 ± 31 min vs. 75 ± 38 min, P = 0.03, respectively). No differences were observed in term of peri-procedural complications such as procedural myocardial infarction, coronary perforations, and contrast-induced nephropathy between mini-STAR and CS. The mini-STAR technique is a promising strategy for the treatment of CTO lesions, achieving a high procedural success rate and low occurrence of procedural adverse events.

Subintimal Tracking and Re-entry (STAR) Technique with Contrast Guidance for Chronic Total Occlusion: Experience with 4 Cases

Percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion of coronary arteries remains technically challenging. It shows lower procedural success rates compared with other lesion subsets. It is for this reason that interventional cardiologists have developed many techniques to recanalize chronically occluded arteries. Among them, we experienced some cases in which we used the subintimal tracking and re-entry (STAR) technique. Here we report our experience with a review of the literature.

Subintimal tracking and re‐entry technique with contrast guidanc: A safer approach

To assess the procedural and clinical outcomes from a modified subintimal tracking and re-entry (STAR) procedure performed using contrast guidance. Previous data showed that recanalizing a chronic total occlusion (CTO) with the STAR technique was possible. However, this technique was considered difficult and therefore has only been adopted by a limited number of experienced operators. Patients (n = 68) with a CTO of a native coronary artery treated by a single operator with this technique were included. The right coronary artery was involved in 79.4%, the morphology was blunt in 77.9%, and CTO length was longer than 20 mm in 67.6%. Angiographic success rate was 80.9% with a 70.6% rate of complete recanalization. Stent implantation was performed in 82.3% of cases, with drug-eluting stents (DES) implanted in the majority (92.7%). Procedural complications occurred in 10.3% of cases. There were no episodes of myocardial infarction during follow-up, with 1 case (1.5%) of cardiac death. There were no cases of definite or probable stent thrombosis, and there was 1 (1.5%) possible stent thrombosis. The overall rate of in-segment binary restenosis was 44.7%, and target lesion revascularization (TLR) was performed in 25% of lesions. The rate of TLR in lesions treated with DES was 29.4% and in those treated with bare-metal stents was 50%. The contrast-guided STAR technique appears to be feasible and relatively safe. However, this procedure is limited by a high rate of restenosis even with DES, and a second procedure may be necessary to obtain a definitive result.