Value of intravascular ultrasound in the management of coronary chronic total occlusions

Failure of guide wire crossing is the commonest reason for failed procedure in chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the coronary arteries. Intravascular ultrasound can be useful in some cases to achieve. Successful guide wire crossing into the distal true lumen of the coronary artery. We describe two cases demonstrating the role of intravascular ultrasound in successful recannalization of the CTO. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Real world perspective of coronary chronic total occlusion in third world countries: A tertiary care centre study from northern India

ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to determine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, angiographic profile and predictors of outcome for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) in a tertiary referral centre of north India.BackgroundThere is no data on the prevalence and very few reports on clinical characteristics, angiographic profile and outcome of PCI in CTO from India.MethodsRetrospective analysis was done for the data of 12,020 patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) between January 2018 to January 2019 at our centre. Detailed baseline clinical, angiographic and revascularization data was collected. Outcome of CTO PCI was also noted. All baseline parameters were analysed for predicting the outcome of CTO PCI.ResultsCTO was identified in 16.3% (1968) patients undergoing CAG and in 24.4% of patients with hemodynamically significant CAD. CTO was predominantly found in LAD (48%) followed by RCA (42.9%) and LCx (25.3%) arterial distribution. Mean JCTO score was 1.93 ± 0.7. PCI as a management strategy was adopted in 456 of 1968 patients (23.1%) and was successful in 340 of 456 (74.6%) of patients. Almost all CTO PCI were attempted by an antegrade approach only. Increasing age, male sex, CTO in LCx arterial distribution and higher J CTO score were associated with poorer outcome in CTO PCI.ConclusionsCTO’s are commonly encountered during CAG procedures. In patients undergoing CTO PCI, a fair success rate can be achieved in a high volume experienced centre.     

Effectiveness,safety, and patient reported outcomes of a planned investment procedure in higher-risk chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: Rationale and design of the invest-CTO study

Background

The anatomical complexity of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) correlates with procedural failure and complication rates. CTO modification after unsuccessful crossing has been associated with subsequent higher technical success rates, but complication rates remain high with this approach. While successful CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been associated with improved angina and quality of life (QOL) this has not been demonstrated in anatomically high-risk CTOs. Whether a planned CTO modification procedure, hereafter named Investment procedure, could improve patient outcomes has never been investigated.

Study Design

Invest-CTO is a prospective, single-arm, international, multicenter study, evaluating the effectiveness and safety of a planned investment procedure, with a subsequent completion CTO PCI (at 8–12 weeks), in anatomically high-risk CTOs. We will enroll 200 patients with CTOs defined as high-risk according to our Invest CTO criteria at centers in Norway and United Kingdom. Patients with aorto-ostial lesions, occlusion within a previous stent, or a prior attempt at target vessel CTO PCI within 6 months will be excluded. The co-primary endpoints are cumulative procedural success (%) after both procedures, and a composite safety endpoint at 30 days after completion CTO PCI. Patient reported outcomes (PROs), treatment satisfaction, and clinical endpoints will be reported.

Conclusion

This study will prospectively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a planned two staged PCI procedure in the treatment of high-risk CTOs and may have the potential to change current clinical practice.     

The impact of chronic total occlusions in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is frequently encountered in patients evaluated for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) due to severe aortic stenosis. The prognostic relevance of chronic total occlusions (CTOs) in this setting is poorly understood. We conducted a search of MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify studies evaluating patients who underwent TAVR and evaluated outcomes depending on the presence of coronary CTOs. Pooled analysis was performed to estimate the rate and risk ratio for mortality. Four studies involving 25,432 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The follow up ranged from in-hospital outcomes to 8-years follow-up. Coronary artery disease was present in 67.8% to 75.5% of patients in 3 studies which reported this variable. The prevalence of CTOs varied between 2% and 12.6% in this cohort. The presence of CTOs was associated with increase in length of stay (8.1 ± 8.2 vs. 5.9 ± 6.5, p < 0.01), cardiogenic shock (5.1% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.01), acute myocardial infarction (5.8% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.02) and acute kidney injury (18.6% vs. 13.9%, p = 0.048). The pooled 1-year death rate revealed 41 deaths in 165 patients in the CTO group and 396 deaths in 1663 patients with no CTO ((24.8%) vs. (23.8%)). The meta-analysis of death with CTO versus no CTO showed a nonsignificant trend toward increased mortality with CTOs (risk ratio 1.11 95% CI 0.90–1.40, I² = 0%). Our analysis suggests that concomitant CTO lesions in patients undergoing TAVR are common, and its presence was associated with increased in-hospital complications. However, CTO presence by itself was not associated with increased long-term mortality, only a nonsignificant trend toward an increased risk of death in patients with CTO was found. Further studies are warranted to assess the prognostic relevance of CTO lesion in TAVR patients.     

Prognostic value of the age,creatinine, and ejection fraction score for non‐infarct‐related chronic total occlusion revascularization after primary percutaneous intervention in acute ST‐elevation myocardial infarction patients: A retrospective study

Objective

It is not known if ACEF scores could evaluate the prognosis of recanalization of non‐infarct‐related coronary arteries (non‐IRA) with chronic total occlusions (CTO) in patients who successfully underwent primary PCI. The objective of the current study was to assess the prognostic value of ACEF scores in acute ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with non‐IRA CTO after successful primary PCI.

Methods

There were 2952 STEMI patients who underwent successful primary PCI from January 2006 to December 2014 in our hospital, among them 377 patients had a non‐IRA CTO lesion. The patients were divided into successful CTO‐PCI group (n = 221) and failed/non‐attempted CTO‐PCI group (n = 156). Patients were stratified based on the ACEF tertiles. Primary end points measured in the current study were major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the composite of all‐cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, ischemia‐driven coronary revascularization and hospitalization for heart failure at 1 year.

Results

The incidence of MACE, all‐cause death and cardiac death were higher in the failed/non‐attempted CTO‐PCI group (P < 0.001). In the successful CTO‐PCI group, the cumulative 1‐year incidences of MACE and all‐cause death were decreased compared to those in the failed/non‐attempted CTO‐PCI group (log‐rank P < 0.001). The risk for MACE was reduced in the successful CTO‐PCI group compared to the failed/non‐attempted CTO‐PCI group in patients with low and intermediate ACEF scores (log‐rank P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Successfully staged CTO‐PCI could gain advantageous clinical outcomes in those patients with low or intermediate ACEF scores.     

Imaging behind occluded areas with an iatrogenic perforated balloon: A safe,practical, and simple new method of visualizing the distal lumen in total occlusion

Objective

In the present study, we investigated the effectiveness and reliability of a new method that reveals whether guidewire advanced distal to the lesion is in the lumen in patients with acute (ATO) or chronic coronary total occlusion (CTO).

Methods

Forty‐one patients with symptomatic ATO and 22 patients with CTO who were admitted into our catheterization laboratory between January 2016 and March 2017 were included. In patients in whom antegrade filling could not be demonstrated after passing 0.014″ guidewire beyond the total lesion, a 1.25 × 15 mm balloon was punctured with a needle outside the operative field to visualize the total lesion. This perforated balloon was then used to deliver an opaque substance through this hole to visualize the distal part.

Results

The mean age of our 63 patients was 66 ± 12 years. They had diabetes (57%), hypertension (100%), and a history of PCI (85%). The mean procedural time was 27 ± 6.8 min, and the mean volume of contrast material used was 93.9 ± 24 mL. This technique was 100% successful in accurately demonstrating the distal lumen and preventing complications.

Conclusion

This new method we developed is much simpler and more useful than other methods for visualization of the true lumen because we can re‐orient the balloon at the time of opaque injection and use 190 cm guidewire without additional costs. Additionally, one balloon is sufficient for the operation.

     

Update in the Percutaneous Management of Coronary Chronic Total Occlusions

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTOs) has been rapidly evolving during recent years. With improvement in equipment and techniques, high success rates can be achieved at experienced centers, although overall success rates remain low. Prospective, randomized-controlled data regarding optimal use and indications for CTO PCI remain limited. CTO PCI should be performed when the anticipated benefit exceeds the potential risk. New high-quality studies of the clinical outcomes and techniques of CTO PCI are needed, as is the expansion of expert centers and operators that can achieve excellent clinical outcomes in this challenging patient and lesion subgroup. In the current review the authors summarize the latest publications in CTO PCI and provide an overview of the current state of the field.     

Evaluating the efficacy and safety of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus the optimal drug therapy (ODT) for stable coronary heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundMany studies have reported potential benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus optimal drug therapy (ODT) for patients with stable coronary heart disease but with inconsistent results. To examine this, an explicit systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to compared the clinical outcomes of PCI and ODT in these patients.MethodsThe following terms were combined to search relative articles through databases PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and Web of Science published from January 2010 to November 2021 according to Participants, Intervention, Control, Outcomes, Study (PICOS) criteria: “coronary heart disease”, “stable coronary heart disease”, “stable angina pectoris”, “percutaneous coronary intervention”, “PCI”, “percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty”, “drug therapy”, “optimized drug treatment”, and “optimized drug therapy”. The meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.2, and the Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies.ResultsA total of 12 articles were included in the final analysis. There were 4,288 cases of PCI patients and 4,261 cases of ODT patients. The results showed that, when comparing PCI with ODT, there was a significant difference in the probability of myocardial infarction [relative risk (RR) =0.63; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.45–0.90] and the patient mortality (RR =0.51; 95% CI: 0.40–0.64). However, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of stroke (RR =1.33; 95% CI: 0.82–2.17), revascularization (RR =0.86; 95% CI: 0.46–1.62) and patient quality of life (MD =10.44; 95% CI: −1.84 to 22.73). Performance bias and detection bias were all unclear in the included studies and should be warned.DiscussionCompared with ODT, PCI reduced the mortality and myocardial infarction rate of patients with CTO or severe coronary artery stenosis. However, the incidence of stroke, revascularization, and quality of life of patients were not significant different between PCI and ODT. Performance bias and detection bias should be cautioned.     

Randomized Comparison of a CrossBoss First Versus Standard Wire Escalation Strategy for Crossing Coronary Chronic Total Occlusions: The CrossBoss First Trial

Objectives

The authors performed a multicenter, randomized-controlled, clinical trial comparing upfront use of the CrossBoss catheter versus antegrade wire escalation for antegrade crossing of coronary chronic total occlusions.

Procedural Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions for Chronic Total Occlusions Via the Radial Approach: Insights From an International Chronic Total Occlusion Registry

Objectives

This study examined the frequency and outcomes of radial access for chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment for Femoropopliteal Artery Disease: The Chronic Total Occlusion Cohort in the IN.PACT Global Study

Objectives

This study evaluated the 12-month safety and effectiveness of a paclitaxel drug-coated balloon for treatment of intermittent claudication or rest pain in subjects with femoropopliteal chronic total occlusions (CTO).

Efficacy and Feasibility of the 3-Dimensional Wiring Technique for Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: First Report of Outcomes of the 3-Dimensional Wiring Technique

Objectives

This study sought to compare the procedural outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion between the periods before and after introduction of 3-dimensional (3D) wiring.

Origin of all three major coronary arteries from the right sinus of Valsalva: clinical, angiographic, and magnetic resonance imaging findings and incidence in a select referral population.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the incidence and imaging features by coronary angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of anomalies in which the right, circumflex, and left anterior descending coronary arteries arise separately from the right sinus of Valsalva. BACKGROUND: The anomalous origin of all major coronary arteries from separate ostia in the right sinus of Valsalva has been reported as exceedingly rare, with mainly isolated cases reported. A knowledge of the origin and proximal courses of aberrant arteries is critical for patient management. METHODS: 42 consecutive patients without other congenital heart disease referred to our institution for MRI evaluation of anomalous coronary artery over a six year period were evaluated. Analysis of angiograms and MRI was done to determine the anatomic origin and proximal pathway of coronary arteries (determined by conventional angiography and MRI) and degree of any stenosis (by angiography). RESULTS: Seven of the 42 patients (17%) in this referral population had the described anatomy. Both conventional angiography and MRI depicted the origin and proximal courses of these arteries. In all patients, the circumflex passed behind the aorta. In three, the left anterior descending passed through the ventricular septum; in four, it passed anterior to the pulmonary trunk. CONCLUSIONS: This series is the largest ever reported on this complex anatomical variant and the first to give a systematic analysis of the anatomy by angiography and MRI. This constellation of multiple anomalous coronary arterial origins and proximal courses may not be as rare as previously reported.