Coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion: current indications and future directions

Coron Artery Dis. 2017 Aug;28(5):426-436. doi: 10.1097/MCA.0000000000000490.

Abstract

Chronic total occlusions (CTOs) are routinely encountered during coronary angiography, but subsequent revascularization rates are low. This has likely been driven by a historical belief that there is minimal clinical benefit and poor success rates with a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, in the current era, with the development of new techniques and tools, experienced operators can perform CTO-PCI successfully in the majority of patients. The current indications and benefit of CTO-PCI remain a topic of controversy and debate. There is a growing body of predominantly nonrandomized studies reporting both short-term and long-term outcomes of CTO-PCI. Recent and upcoming randomized-controlled trials in this area will also potentially expand indications in both stable and patients with acute coronary syndrome. In this review, we will discuss the current evidence for CTO-PCI and also future directions in this field.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chronic Disease
  • Clinical Decision-Making
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Occlusion / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Occlusion / mortality
  • Coronary Occlusion / physiopathology
  • Coronary Occlusion / therapy*
  • Diffusion of Innovation
  • Forecasting
  • Humans
  • Patient Selection
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / adverse effects
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / instrumentation
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / mortality
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / trends*
  • Quality of Life
  • Risk Factors
  • Stents / trends
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome