title: Chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention case selection and techniques for the antegrade-only operator.
abstract: Coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) remain a difficult lesion subset to treat. Although CTOs are present at coronary angiography in 15-20% of patients, only a small fraction of eligible patients will be offered percutaneous treatment. Recent publications from centers with dedicated CTO programs using the full range of antegrade and retrograde techniques suggest success rates in the range of 90% even when little anatomic exclusion are used. However, many patients with clinically appropriate CTO targets have simpler anatomy that can predictably be managed without the selected skills and equipment. The purpose of this review is to provide skilled percutaneous coronary intervention operators who have not specialized in complex retrograde CTO techniques, an algorithm for the selection and antegrade management of appropriate CTO cases. Core equipment and techniques are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (Quebec Heart and Lung Institute), Université Laval, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rinfret
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Joyal
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Spratt
authors.forename: Christopher E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Buller
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D062906:Cardiac Catheters; D002908:Chronic Disease; D054059:Coronary Occlusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D019091:Critical Pathways; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: antegrade; chronic total occlusion; complexity; percutaneous coronary intervention