Improved cardiac survival, freedom from MACE and angina-related quality of life after successful percutaneous recanalization of coronary artery chronic total occlusions.

Background: Most percutaneous recanalizations of coronary artery chronic total occlusion (CTO) are not attempted because of the skepticism on their long-term clinical benefit. We assessed the effect of percutaneous CTO recanalization procedures on long-term cardiac survival, freedom from MACE and angina-related quality of life (AQL).

Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent attempt of percutaneous native coronary artery CTO recanalization between 2003 and 2009 were included in the study.