PCI VS CABG for patients with CTO: Contemporary techniques and outcome-single center experience

Abstract

CTOs are common findings on coronary arteriograms [1]. CTOs were defined as 100% coronary occlusion present for at least three months and found in almost 20% of all angiograms of patients with angina. The choice of therapy for patients undergoing coronary angiography and found to have CTOs was studied in The Canadian Multicenter Chronic Total Occlusions Registry [2]. Almost half the patients with CTOs were treated medically, and 25% underwent CABG (CTOs bypassed in 88%). PCI was performed in 30%, with a 70% success rate. While more patients with CTOs have historically been treated with CABG than PCI, technical advancements in PCI of CTOs may be expected to drive more patients with CTOs towards being treated with PCI [3].