Coronary chronic total occlusion.
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTO) remains a major challenge in interventional cardiology. Successful recanalization of a CTO can alleviate angina, reduce the need for coronary artery bypass surgery and increase long-term survival. Improving results from the historically quoted success rates of 50% to the levels now routinely quoted by some operators (80-90%), requires not just skill and experience, but also a thorough understanding of the wide array of materials and techniques now available in this area. The decision to attempt PCI of a CTO (versus continued medical therapy or surgical revascularization) requires an individualized risk/benefit analysis, encompassing clinical, imaging and technical considerations.
San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. cosmogodino@gmail.com
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Godino
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Carlino
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Al-Lamee
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Colombo
D002908:Chronic Disease; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods