title: Knowledge of chronic total occlusion among Polish interventional cardiologists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic total occlusion (CTO) recanalization is indicated in patients with symptoms and evidence of ischemia, but in most cases those types of lesions are still treated medically. In the last few years CTO angioplasty technique has changed dramatically due to considerable advances in techniques and dedicated equipment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  An attempt to assess the state of knowledge of technical aspects of CTO angioplasty of coronary arteries among Polish interventional cardiologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire survey performed during two major Polish invasive cardiology workshops.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the study there participated 113 physicians with an average length of work experience of 13 years, most of them cardiologists certified as independent primary operators. The majority of respondents recognized the need of prevention of thrombotic complications through control of activated coagulation time during the CTO procedures. Prevention of renal complications and X-ray protection are also recognized as a significant part of the procedures. The benefits from the use of over-the-wire microcatheters and balloons, the proper choice of dedicated guidewires, contralateral injections and retrograde technique are underestimated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite satisfactory knowledge about indications and qualification for the CTO procedure, the awareness of procedural aspects (particularly the retrograde technique) as well as the dedicated CTO equipment among Polish interventional cardiologists is still insufficient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Cardiology, Cardiology Institute, Jagiellonian University Medical College, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bryniarski
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Dietl's Hospital, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zabojszcz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Dietl's Hospital, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dębski
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Dietl's Hospital, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marchewka
authors.affiliation: II Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Interventions, Cardiology Institute, Jagiellonian University Medical College, University Hospital, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Legutko
authors.affiliation: I Department of Cardiology Interventional Electrocardiology and Arterial Hypertension, Cardiology Institute, Jagiellonian University Medical College, University Hospital, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Surowiec
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Cardiology, Cardiology Institute, Jagiellonian University Medical College, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Siudak
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Cardiology, Cardiology Institute, Jagiellonian University Medical College, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Żmudka
authors.affiliation: II Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Interventions, Cardiology Institute, Jagiellonian University Medical College, University Hospital, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dudek
authors.affiliation: I Department of Cardiology Interventional Electrocardiology and Arterial Hypertension, Cardiology Institute, Jagiellonian University Medical College, University Hospital, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bryniarski
keywords: chronic total occlusion; percutaneous coronary intervention; physicians’ knowledge