Coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs) are frequently identified during coronary angiography and remain the most challenging lesion group to treat. Patients with CTOs are frequently left ...unrevascularized due to perceptions of high failure rates and technical complexity even if they have symptoms of coronary disease or ischemia. In this review, the authors describe a North American contemporary approach for percutaneous coronary interventions for CTO. Two guide catheters are placed to facilitate seamless transition between antegrade wire–based, antegrade dissection re-entry–based, and retrograde (wire or dissection re-entry) techniques, the “hybrid” interventional strategy. After dual coronary injection is performed, 4 angiographic parameters are assessed: 1) clear understanding of location of the proximal cap using angiography or intravascular ultrasonography; 2) lesion length; 3) presence of branches, as well as size and quality of the target vessel at the distal cap; and 4) suitability of collaterals for retrograde techniques. On the basis of these 4 characteristics, an initial strategy and rank order hierarchy for technical approaches is established. Radiation exposure, contrast utilization, and procedure time are monitored throughout the procedure, and thresholds are established for intraprocedural strategy conversion to maximize safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Objectives
We examined the contemporary incidence, types, predictors, angiographic characteristics, management and outcomes of coronary perforation.
Background
Coronary perforation is a rare, but ...important, complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). There is lack of data on perforations stratified as large and distal vessel perforations.
Methods
Retrospective, observational cohort study of all patients who underwent PCI at a high volume, tertiary hospital between the years 2009 and 2016. Angiograms of all coronary perforation cases were reviewed to determine the mechanism, type, and management of perforation. Risk‐adjusted periprocedural complication rates were compared between patients with and without coronary perforation. One‐year mortality outcomes of patients with large vessel vs. distal vessel perforation were also examined.
Results
Coronary perforation occurred in 68 of 13,339 PCIs (0.51%) performed during the study period: 51 (75%) were large vessel perforations and 17 (25%) distal vessel perforations. Most (67%) large vessel perforations were due to balloon/stent inflation, whereas most (94%) distal vessel perforations were due to guidewire exit. Patients with coronary perforations had significantly higher risk for periprocedural complications (adjusted odds ratio 7.57; 95% CI: 4.22–13.50; P < 0.001). Only one patient with large vessel perforation required emergency cardiac surgery, yet in‐hospital mortality was high with both large vessel (7.8%) and distal vessel (11.8%) perforations.
Conclusions
Coronary perforation is an infrequent, but potentially severe PCI complication. Most coronary perforations are large vessel perforations. Although coronary perforations rarely lead to emergency cardiac surgery, both distal vessel and large vessel perforations are associated with high in‐hospital mortality, highlighting the importance of prevention.
Saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) remain the most frequently used conduits in coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Despite advances in surgical techniques and pharmacotherapy, SVG failure rates ...remain high, often leading to repeat coronary revascularization. The no-touch SVG harvesting technique (minimal graft manipulation with preservation of vasa vasorum and nerves) reduces the risk of SVG failure, whereas the effect of the off-pump technique on SVG patency remains unclear. Use of buffered storage solutions, intraoperative graft flow measurement, careful selection of the target vessels, and physiological assessment of the native coronary circulation before CABG may also reduce the incidence of SVG failure. Perioperative aspirin and high-intensity statin administration are the cornerstones of secondary prevention after CABG. Dual antiplatelet therapy is recommended for off-pump CABG and in patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome. Intermediate (30%-60%) SVG stenoses often progress rapidly. Stenting of intermediate SVG stenoses failed to improve outcomes; hence, treatment focuses on strict control of coronary artery disease risk factors. Redo CABG is associated with higher perioperative mortality compared with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); hence, the latter is preferred for most patients requiring repeat revascularization after CABG. SVG PCI is limited by high rates of no-reflow and a high incidence of restenosis during follow-up. Drug-eluting and bare metal stents provide similar long-term outcomes in SVG PCI. Embolic protection devices reduce no-reflow and should be used when feasible. PCI of the corresponding native coronary artery is associated with better short- and long-term outcomes and is preferred over SVG PCI, if technically feasible.
The standard treatment for large vessel coronary perforations is implantation of a covered stent. Antegrade attempts for crossing a right coronary artery chronic total occlusion resulted in guidewire ...and microcatheter exit with pericardial bleeding. A balloon was inflated proximal to the perforation site to achieve temporary hemostasis. Retrograde crossing of the chronic total occlusion was achieved through an epicardial collateral using the reverse controlled antegrade and retrograde tracking technique. Stent implantation resulted in hemostasis, likely due to creation of a subintimal flap that sealed the perforation site. If technically feasible, subintimal recanalization can be an alternative treatment strategy for coronary perforations occurring during chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.
The aim of this study was to determine the techniques and outcomes of hybrid chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a diverse group of patients and operators on 2 ...continents.
CTO PCI has been evolving with constant improvement of equipment and techniques.
Contemporary outcomes of CTO PCI were examined by analyzing the clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics of 3,122 CTO interventions performed in 3,055 patients at 20 centers in the United States, Europe, and Russia.
The mean age was 65 ± 10 years, and 85% of the patients were men, with high prevalence of diabetes (43%), prior myocardial infarction (46%), prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (33%), and prior PCI (65%). The CTO target vessels were the right coronary artery (55%), left anterior descending coronary artery (24%), and left circumflex coronary artery (20%). The mean J-CTO (Multicenter Chronic Total Occlusion Registry of Japan) and PROGRESS CTO (Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention) scores were 2.4 ± 1.3 and 1.3 ± 1.0, respectively. The overall technical and procedural success rate was 87% and 85%, respectively, and the rate of in-hospital major complications was 3.0%. The final successful crossing strategy was antegrade wire escalation in 52.0%, retrograde in 27.1%, and antegrade dissection re-entry in 20.9%; >1 crossing strategy was required in 40.9%. Median contrast volume, air kerma radiation dose, and procedure and fluoroscopy time were 270 ml (interquartile range: 200 to 360 ml), 2.9 Gy (interquartile range: 1.7 to 4.7 Gy), 123 min (interquartile range: 81 to 188 min) and 47 min (interquartile range: 29 to 77 min), respectively.
CTO PCI is currently being performed with high success and acceptable complication rates among various experienced centers in the United States, Europe, and Russia. (Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention PROGRESS CTO; NCT02061436).
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.
Display omitted
Implant related infections are the most common cause of joint arthroplasty failure, requiring revision surgeries and a new implant, resulting in a cost of $8.6 billion annually. To address this ...problem, we created a class of coating technology that is applied in the operating room, in a procedure that takes less than 10 min, and can incorporate any desired antibiotic. Our coating technology uses an in situ coupling reaction of branched poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(allyl mercaptan) (PEG-PAM) polymers to generate an amphiphilic polymeric coating. We show in vivo efficacy in preventing implant infection in both post-arthroplasty infection and post-spinal surgery infection mouse models. Our technology displays efficacy with or without systemic antibiotics, the standard of care. Our coating technology is applied in a clinically relevant time frame, does not require modification of implant manufacturing process, and does not change the implant shelf life.
Background
There is limited data on retrograde chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via ipsilateral epicardial collaterals (IEC).
Aims
To compare the clinical and ...angiographic characteristics, and outcomes of retrograde CTO PCI via IEC versus other collaterals in a large multicenter registry.
Methods
Observational cohort study from the Prospective Global registry for the study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention (PROGRESS‐CTO).
Results
Of 4466 retrograde cases performed between 2012 and 2023, crossing through IEC was attempted in 191 (4.3%) cases with 50% wiring success. The most common target vessel in the IEC group was the left circumflex (50%), in comparison to other retrograde cases, where the right coronary artery was most common (70%). The Japanese CTO score was similar between the two groups (3.13 ± 1.23 vs. 3.06 ± 1.06, p = 0.456); however, the IEC group had a higher Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention (PROGRESS‐CTO) score (1.95 ± 1.02 vs. 1.27 ± 0.92, p < 0.0001). The most used IEC guidewire was the SUOH 03 (39%), and the most frequently used microcatheter was the Caravel (43%). Dual injection was less common in IEC cases (66% vs. 89%, p < 0.0001). Technical (76% vs. 79%, p = 0.317) and procedural success rates (74% vs. 79%, p = 0.281) were not different between the two groups. However, IEC cases had a higher procedural complications rate (25.8% vs. 16.4%, p = 0.0008), including perforations (17.3% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.0001), pericardiocentesis (3.1% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.018), and dissection/thrombus of the donor vessel (3.7% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.002).
Conclusion
The use of IEC for retrograde CTO PCI was associated with similar technical and procedural success rates when compared with other retrograde cases, but higher incidence of periprocedural complications.
Background
Contemporary chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) practice has received limited study.
Aim
To examine the contemporary CTO PCI practice.
Methods
We ...performed an online, anonymous, international survey of CTO PCI operators.
Results
Five hundred forty‐five CTO PCI operators and 190 interventional cardiology fellows with an interest in CTO PCI participated in this survey. Almost half were from the United States (41%), most (93%) were men, and the median h/week spent in the hospital was 58. Median annual case numbers were 205 (150−328) for PCIs and 20 (5−50) for CTO PCIs. Almost one‐fifth (17%) entered CTO cases into registries, such as PROGRESS‐CTO (55%) and EuroCTO (20%). More than one‐third worked at academic institutions (39%), 31% trained dedicated CTO fellows, and 22% proctored CTO PCI. One‐third (34%) had dedicated CTO PCI days. Most (51%) never discharged CTO patients the same day, while 17% discharged CTO patients the same day >50% of the time. After successful guidewire crossing, 38% used intravascular imaging >90% of the time. Most used CTO scores including J‐CTO (81%), PROGRESS‐CTO (35%), and PROGRESS‐CTO complications scores (30%). Coronary artery perforation was encountered within the last month by 19%. On a scale of 0−10, the median comfort levels in treating coronary artery perforation were: covered stents 8.8 (7.0−10), coil embolization 5.0 (2.1−8.5), and fat embolization 3.7 (0.6−7.3). Most (51%) participants had a complication cart/kit and 25% conducted regular complication drills with catheterization laboratory staff.
Conclusion
Contemporary CTO PCI practices vary widely. Further research on barriers to following the guiding principles of CTO PCI may improve patient outcomes.
PDF
