Efficacy and safety of drug-eluting stents in chronic total coronary occlusion recanalization: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting stent (DES) and bare-metal stent (BMS) use in chronic total occlusion (CTO) recanalization.

Background: The long-term effectiveness and safety of DES use in CTO recanalization are unclear, and performance of randomized clinical trials in the field is complex.

Methods: Major electronic information sources were explored for articles comparing outcomes with DES and BMS use among patients with CTO.