Development of a high-volume, multiple-operator program for percutaneous chronic total coronary occlusion revascularization: procedural, clinical, and cost-utilization outcomes.

Background: Development of a specialized chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO) revascularization program attentive to procedural guidelines, quality oversight, and cost/resource utilization has not been described.

Methods: A single-center CTO interventional program was initiated with requirements including: extensive didactic training, on-site proctorship, routine determination of case appropriateness, adherence to procedural safety guidelines, and a 2-operator/case approach. Clinical and angiographic characteristics, procedural outcomes, in-hospital clinical events, and cost/resource utilization were examined.