Update on chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) continues to evolve. This review summarizes recent publications categorized by outcomes, techniques, complications, and ongoing studies in this rapidly growing area.

Coronary calcification in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes: insights from the MATRIX trial.

Aims: The role of coronary calcification on clinical outcomes among different revascularization strategies in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) has been rarely investigated. The aim of this investigation is to evaluate the role of coronary calcification, detected by coronary angiography, in the whole spectrum of patients presenting with acute ACS.

Methods And Results: The present study was a post hoc analysis of the MATRIX programme.

Utility of Guiding Catheter Extensions for Recanalization of Chronic Total Occlusions: A EuroCTO Club Expert Panel Report.

Guiding catheter extensions (GCEs) have become indispensable tools in the modern approach to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The support offered during complex PCI of uncrossable, or tortuous lesions is particularly valuable in the setting of chronic total occlusions (CTO), both for conventional anterograde wire escalation and for anterograde or retrograde dissection and re-entry techniques. This EuroCTO consensus document describes the use of GCE during CTO recanalization and provides a practical guide to anatomies and techniques in which these devices are applicable.

Predictors of target lesion failure after treatment of left main, bifurcation, or chronic total occlusion lesions with ultrathin-strut drug-eluting coronary stents in the ULTRA registry.

Background: Data about the long-term performance of new-generation ultrathin-strut drug-eluting stents (DES) in challenging coronary lesions, such as left main (LM), bifurcation, and chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions are scant.

Methods: The international multicenter retrospective observational ULTRA study included consecutive patients treated from September 2016 to August 2021 with ultrathin-strut (<70 µm) DES in challenging de novo lesions. Primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF): composite of cardiac death, target-lesion revascularization (TLR), target-vessel myocardial infarction (TVMI), or definite stent thrombosis (ST).

Gender differences in percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusions from the ERCTO study.

Background: Gender-specific data addressing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusion (CTO) in female patients are scarce and based on small sample size studies.

Aims: We aimed to analyze gender-differences regarding in-hospital clinical outcomes after CTO-PCI.

Methods: Data from 35,449 patients enrolled in the prospective European Registry of CTOs were analyzed.

Global Chronic Total Occlusion Crossing Algorithm: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

The authors developed a global chronic total occlusion crossing algorithm following 10 steps: 1) dual angiography; 2) careful angiographic review focusing on proximal cap morphology, occlusion segment, distal vessel quality, and collateral circulation; 3) approaching proximal cap ambiguity using intravascular ultrasound, retrograde, and move-the-cap techniques; 4) approaching poor distal vessel quality using the retrograde approach and bifurcation at the distal cap by use of a dual-lumen catheter and intravascular ultrasound; 5) feasibility of retrograde crossing through grafts and septal and epicardial collateral vessels; 6) antegrade wiring strategies; 7) retrograde approach; 8) changing strategy when failing to achieve progress; 9) considering performing an investment procedure if crossing attempts fail; and 10) stopping when reaching high radiation or contrast dose or in case of long procedural time, occurrence of a serious complication, operator and patient fatigue, or lack of expertise or equipment. This algorithm can improve outcomes and expand discussion, research, and collaboration.

Radiation Exposure for Percutaneous Interventions of Chronic Total Coronary Occlusions in a Multicenter Registry: The Influence of Operator Variability and Technical Set-up.

Aims: Radiation exposure is a limiting factor for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) of chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO) lesions. This study was designed to analyze changes in patient radiation dose for CTO-PCI and parameters associated with radiation dose.

Methods And Results: We analyzed a cohort of 12,136 procedures performed by 23 operators between 2012 and 2017 from the European Registry of CTO-PCI.

Angiographic control versus ischaemia-driven management of patients undergoing percutaneous revascularisation of the unprotected left main coronary artery with second-generation drug-eluting stents: rationale and design of the PULSE trial.

Background: The role of planned angiographic control (PAC) over a conservative management driven by symptoms and ischaemia following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the unprotected left main (ULM) with second-generation drug-eluting stents remains controversial. PAC may timely detect intrastent restenosis, but it is still unclear if this translated into improved prognosis.

Methods And Analysis: PULSE is a prospective, multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial.

Device entrapment during percutaneous coronary intervention of chronic total occlusions: incidence and management strategies.

Background: Equipment delivery in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can be challenging and it is associated with a higher risk of device entrapment. Data regarding the incidence of device entrapment during CTO PCI are lacking.

Aims: The aim of this study was to describe the incidence and procedural characteristics of device entrapment in patients undergoing PCI for CTOs and discuss management strategies for dealing with it.

Catheterization laboratory activity before and during COVID-19 spread: A comparative analysis in Piedmont, Italy, by the Italian Society of Interventional Cardiology (GISE).

Background: COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19) led to the reorganization of Cardiology Units in terms of working spaces and healthcare personnel. In this scenario, both outpatient visits and elective interventional cardiology procedures were suspended and/or postponed. We aimed to report the impact of COVID-19 on interventional coronary and structural procedures in Piedmont, Italy.

Management and outcomes of coronary artery perforations treated with the block and deliver technique.

Objectives And Background: Coronary artery perforation (CAP) is a potentially life-threatening complication during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and the best strategy for its management is yet to be proved. We aimed to analyze the safety, efficacy, and long-term clinical outcomes of the block and deliver (BAD) technique, as only anecdotal cases are reported in literature.

Methods: From January 2016 to January 2020, all consecutive patients treated with the BAD technique at five high-volume centers in Italy were retrospectively identified.

Effectiveness of the "new rope coil" composite core Suoh 0.3 guidewire in the management of coronary artery dissections.

Coronary artery dissection is a well-known complication of percutaneous coronary interventions. In this setting, coronary artery dissection is caused by mechanical injury of the arterial wall. However, dissection may also occur spontaneously.

Impact of Kissing Balloon in Patients Treated With Ultrathin Stents for Left Main Lesions and Bifurcations: An Analysis From the RAIN-CARDIOGROUP VII Study.

Background: There are limited data regarding the impact of final kissing balloon (FKI) in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention using ultrathin stents in left main or bifurcations.

Methods: All patients undergoing left main or bifurcations percutaneous coronary intervention enrolled in the RAIN registry (Very Thin Stents for Patients With MAIN or BiF in Real Life: The RAIN, a Multicenter Study) evaluating ultrathin stents were included. Major adverse cardiac event (a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization, and stent thrombosis) was the primary end point, while its components, along with target vessel revascularization, were the secondary end points.

Outcomes with retrograde versus antegrade chronic total occlusion revascularization.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of retrograde versus antegrade approach in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: The retrograde approach has increased the success rate of CTO PCI but has been associated with a higher risk for complications.

Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of studies published between 2000 and August 2019 comparing the in-hospital and long-term outcomes with retrograde versus antegrade CTO PCI.

[Infero-postero-lateral acute myocardial infarction caused by left ventricular myxoma embolism].

The majority of myxomas are located in the left atrium (75%) followed by the right atrium (20%). In rare cases, myxomas can be found in the ventricles, with 2.5% reported for myxomas in the left ventricle.

Retrograde approach-related epicardial collateral channel perforation successfully treated with simultaneous bilateral coils embolization: A case illustration and review.

Coronary perforation is a rare but potentially lethal complication of percutaneous coronary intervention. Management of coronary perforations is mainly conditioned by the extension of coronary rupture and location of the perforation. Successful treatment is highly affected by the operator's familiarity with tools and dedicated techniques to achieve prompt sealing of the disruption.

Dual lumen microcatheters for complex percutaneous coronary interventions.

In some bifurcation anatomies side branch wiring can be difficult particularly when side branch is highly angulated. Furthermore a combination of bifurcations and chronic total occlusion can be a real challenge for interventional cardiologists. New devices have been produced to facilitate complex PCI and recently introduced dual lumen microcatheters can be really helpful in these scenarios.

Utility of Intravascular Ultrasound in Percutaneous Revascularization of Chronic Total Occlusions: An Overview.

Intravascular ultrasound has been used for >20 years to guide percutaneous coronary intervention in different subsets of coronary lesions. During the last decade, the interest in percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion (CTO) has increased dramatically, leading to high success rates. Failure of guidewire crossing is the most common reason for failed CTO attempts.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection treated with biovascular scaffolds guided by intravascular ultrasounds imaging.

We reported a case of a fit and active 48 years' old woman presented with acute coronary syndrome due to a spontaneous coronary dissection (SCAD) treated with bioresorbable scaffolds (BVS) implantation guided by intravascular ultrasounds (IVUS) with immediate and long-term good results.