title: Intracoronary fibrin-specific thrombolytic infusion facilitates percutaneous recanalization of chronic total occlusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to investigate the benefit, predictors of procedural success, and safety of pre-procedural intra-coronary fibrin-specific lytic infusion (ICL) in patients with failed prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTO).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Percutaneous coronary intervention for CTO remains a challenge with a high incidence of procedural failure secondary to inability to cross the occlusion with the guidewire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five patients who underwent unsuccessful PCI procedures of CTO (more than three months' duration) had a repeat attempt of recanalization with the use of pre-procedural ICL. Patients received a weight-adjusted dose of either alteplase (tPA) (2 to 5 mg/h) or tenecteplase (TNK) (0.5 mg/h) for a total of 8 h. The total dose of ICL therapy was infused split between the guiding catheter and an intracoronary infusion catheter. A step-down multivariate logistic regression analysis was completed to determine the best predictors of procedural success. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including myocardial infarction, acute reocclusion, stroke, and death, as well as bleeding complications, were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedure was successful in 46 of 85 cases (54%). Four of 85 (5%) contained dissections that did not result in perforations, tamponade, or MACE. The incidence of groin complications was 7 of 85 (8%) and of bleeding complications requiring transfusions was 3 of 85 (3.5%). On multivariate analysis, predictors of success were tapering morphology (odds ratio, 15.5; 95% confidence interval, 3.73 to 63; p = 0.0002) and lack of bridging collaterals (odds ratio, 5.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.53 to 17; p = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intracoronary infusion of fibrin-specific thrombolytic therapy may provide a valuable and safe option for facilitating percutaneous revascularization of CTO.
authors.affiliation: William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073, USA.
authors.forename: Amr E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: Stacy D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Brewington
authors.forename: Simon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Boura
authors.forename: Cindy L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Grines
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: O'Neill
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin / Q000187:drug effects*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012086:Reoperation; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D005337:Fibrin