Recanalization of chronic total coronary occlusions--high success rate despite a restrictive use of the retrograde approach.

AIM: The retrograde approach in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is increasingly being used as a first-line intervention despite a higher radiation exposure, contrast volume, and a higher major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rate compared with the antegrade approach. It was aimed to evaluate the overall success rate of CTO-PCI over time when the retrograde approach was restrictively used only after a failed antegrade attempt. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective single operator registry from January 2008 to December 2012 about 436 consecutive patients underwent a CTO-PCI. Mean age was 63.4 ± 10.3 years, and 86% were male. The overall success rate improved significantly over time [68% (first quartile) to 91% (fourth quartile), P < 0.001] due to a significant increase of the antegrade success rate. This could be achieved by a retrograde approach of less than 20% with no change over time. The overall in-hospital MACE rate was 0.69% with no difference between antegrade and retrograde procedures. CONCLUSIONS: A high CTO-PCI success rate of above 90% could be achieved with a restrictive use of the retrograde technique.