Collateralized chronic total occlusion: A different animal

This report describes a patient with a chronically occluded proximal LAD in whom antegrade flow was not re-established by successful dilatation alone. Obliteration of retrograde collateral flow restored antegrade flow. This case demonstrates the potential detrimental effect of vigorous collateral flow on the patency of chronic occlusions after successful PTCA. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.