Geographic diversity in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: insights from the PROGRESS-CTO registry.

BACKGROUND: There is variability in clinical and lesion characteristics as well as techniques in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We analyzed patient and lesion characteristics, techniques, and outcomes in 11 503 CTO-PCI procedures performed in North America (NA) and in the combined regions of Europe, Asia, and Africa from 2017 to 2023 as documented in the PROGRESS-CTO registry. RESULTS: Eight thousand four hundred seventy-nine (74%) procedures were performed in NA. Compared with non-NA patients, NA patients were older, with higher body mass index and higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, family history of coronary artery disease, prior history of PCI, coronary artery bypass graft surgery and heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease. Their CTOs were more complex, with higher J-CTO (2.56 ± 1.22 vs 1.81 ± 1.24; P less than .001) and PROGRESS-CTO (1.29 ± 1.01 vs 1.07 ± 0.95; P less than .001) scores, longer length, and higher prevalence of proximal cap ambiguity, blunt/no stump, moderate to severe calcification, and proximal tortuosity. Retrograde (31.0% vs 22.1%; P less than .001) and antegrade dissection and re-entry (ADR) (21.2% vs 9.2%; P less than .001) were more commonly used in NA centers, along with intravascular ultrasound (69.0% vs 10.1%; P less than .001). Procedure and fluoroscopy times were longer in NA, while contrast volume and radiation dose were lower. Technical (86.7% vs 86.8%; P > .90) and procedural (85.4% vs 85.8%; P = .70) success and in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (1.9% vs 1.7%; P = .40) were similar in NA and non-NA centers. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with non-NA patients, NA patients undergoing CTO PCI have more comorbidities, higher CTO lesion complexity, are more likely to undergo treatment with retrograde and ADR, and have similar technical success and MACE.

Ultrathin-strut versus thin-strut stent healing and outcomes in preclinical and clinical subjects.

BACKGROUND: Compared with thin-strut durable-polymer drug-eluting stents (DP-DES), ultrathin-strut biodegradable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stents (BP-SES) improve stent-related clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Reduced stent strut thickness is hypothesised to underlie these benefits, but this conjecture remains unproven. AIMS: We aimed to assess the impact of strut thickness on stent healing and clinical outcomes between ultrathin-strut and thin-strut BP-SES. METHODS: First, we performed a preclinical study of 8 rabbits implanted with non-overlapping thin-strut (diameter/thickness 3.5 mm/80 µm) and ultrathin-strut (diameter/thickness 3.0 mm/60 µm) BP-SES in the infrarenal aorta. On day 7, the rabbits underwent intravascular near-infrared fluorescence optical coherence tomography (NIRF-OCT) molecular-structural imaging of fibrin deposition and stent tissue coverage, followed by histopathological analysis. Second, we conducted an individual data pooled analysis of patients enrolled in the BIOSCIENCE and BIOSTEMI randomised PCI trials treated with ultrathin-strut (n=282) or thin-strut (n=222) BP-SES. The primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF) at 1-year follow-up, with a landmark analysis at 30 days. RESULTS: NIRF-OCT image analyses revealed that ultrathin-strut and thin-strut BP-SES exhibited similar stent fibrin deposition (p=0.49) and percentage of uncovered stent struts (p=0.63). Histopathological assessments corroÂborated these findings. In 504 pooled randomised trial patients, TLF rates were similar for those treated with ultrathin-strut or thin-strut BP-SES at 30-day (2.5% vs 1.8%; p=0.62) and 1-year follow-up (4.3% vs 4.7%; p=0.88). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrathin-strut and thin-strut BP-SES demonstrate similar early arterial healing profiles and 30-day and 1-year clinical outcomes.

Ranolazine in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.

Ranolazine is an anti-anginal medication given to patients with chronic angina and persistent symptoms despite medical therapy. We examined 11 491 chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) that were performed at 41 US and non-US centers between 2012 and 2023 in the PROGRESS-CTO Registry. Patients on ranolazine at baseline had more comorbidities, more complex lesions, lower procedural and technical success (based on univariable but not multivariable analysis), and higher incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (on both univariable and multivariable analysis).

Retrograde chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention via ipsilateral collaterals.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data on retrograde chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via ipsilateral epicardial collaterals (IEC). AIMS: To compare the clinical and angiographic characteristics, and outcomes of retrograde CTO PCI via IEC versus other collaterals in a large multicenter registry. METHODS: Observational cohort study from the Prospective Global registry for the study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention (PROGRESS-CTO). RESULTS: Of 4466 retrograde cases performed between 2012 and 2023, crossing through IEC was attempted in 191 (4.3%) cases with 50% wiring success. The most common target vessel in the IEC group was the left circumflex (50%), in comparison to other retrograde cases, where the right coronary artery was most common (70%). The Japanese CTO score was similar between the two groups (3.13 ± 1.23 vs. 3.06 ± 1.06, p = 0.456); however, the IEC group had a higher Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention (PROGRESS-CTO) score (1.95 ± 1.02 vs. 1.27 ± 0.92, p < 0.0001). The most used IEC guidewire was the SUOH 03 (39%), and the most frequently used microcatheter was the Caravel (43%). Dual injection was less common in IEC cases (66% vs. 89%, p < 0.0001). Technical (76% vs. 79%, p = 0.317) and procedural success rates (74% vs. 79%, p = 0.281) were not different between the two groups. However, IEC cases had a higher procedural complications rate (25.8% vs. 16.4%, p = 0.0008), including perforations (17.3% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.0001), pericardiocentesis (3.1% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.018), and dissection/thrombus of the donor vessel (3.7% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The use of IEC for retrograde CTO PCI was associated with similar technical and procedural success rates when compared with other retrograde cases, but higher incidence of periprocedural complications.

Validation of the BCIS CHIP Score in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The complex high-risk indicated percutaneous coronary intervention (CHIP) score is a tool developed using the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS) database to define CHIP cases and predict in-hospital major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (MACCE). AIM: To assess the validity of the CHIP score in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We evaluated the performance of the CHIP score on 8341 CTO PCIs from the Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention (PROGRESS-CTO) performed at 44 centers between 2012 and 2023. RESULTS: In our cohort, 7.8% (n = 647) of patients had a CHIP score of 0, 50.2% (n = 4192) had a CHIP score of 1-2, 26.2% (n = 2187) had a CHIP score of 3-4, 11.7% (n = 972) had a CHIP score of 5-6, 3.3% (n = 276) had a CHIP score of 7-8, and 0.8% (n = 67) had a CHIP score of 9+. The incidence of MACCE for a CHIP score of 0 was 0.6%, reaching as high as 8.7% for a CHIP score of 9+, confirming that a higher CHIP score is associated with a higher risk of MACCE. The estimated increase in the risk of MACCE per one score unit increase was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 65%-141%). The AUC of the CHIP score model for predicting MACCE in our cohort was 0.63 (95% CI: 0.58-0.67). There was a positive correlation between the CHIP score and the PROGRESS-CTO MACE score (Spearman's correlation: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.35-0.39; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The CHIP score has modest predictive capacity for MACCE in CTO PCI.

Racial disparities in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary interventions: insights from the PROGRESS-CTO registry.

OBJECTIVES: There is limited data on race and outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The authors sought to evaluate CTO PCI techniques and outcomes in different racial groups. METHODS: We examined the baseline characteristics and procedural outcomes of 11 806 CTO PCIs performed at 44 US and non-US centers between 2012 and March 2023. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) included death, myocardial infarction, repeat target-vessel revascularization, pericardiocentesis, cardiac surgery, and stroke prior to discharge. RESULTS: The most common racial group was White (84.5%), followed by Black (5.7%), "Other" (3.9%), Hispanic (2.9%), Asian (2.4%), and Native American (0.7%). There were significant differences in the baseline characteristics between different racial groups. When compared with non-White patients, the retrograde approach and antegrade dissection re-entry were more likely to be the successful crossing strategies in White patients without any significant differences in technical success (86.4% vs 86.4%; P = .93), procedural success (84.8% vs 85.0%; P = .79), and in-hospital MACE (2.0% vs 1.5%; P = .15) between the 2 groups. The technical success rate was significantly higher in the "Other" racial group (91.0% vs 86.4% in White, 86.9% in Asian, 84.5% in Black, 84.5% in Hispanic, and 83.3% in Native American; P = .03) without any significant differences in procedural success or in-hospital MACE rates between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite differences in baseline characteristics and procedural techniques, the procedural success and in-hospital MACE of CTO PCI were not significantly different between most racial groups.

Use of plaque modification microcatheters during percutaneous coronary interventions for chronic total occlusion: insights from the PROGRESS-CTO Registry.

Plaque modification microcatheters (PM) (Tornus [Asahi] and Turnpike Gold [Teleflex]) are devices that are mainly used to modify the cap or lesion and maintain good support in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI). We evaluated the frequency of use and outcomes of plaque modification microcatheters in an international multicenter registry. Plaque modification microcatheters were utilized in 242 cases (1.6%: Tornus in 51% and Turnpike Gold in 49%) with decreasing frequency over time (P-for-trend: 0.007 and 0.035, respectively). Technical and procedural success and the incidence of major cardiac adverse events were similar with Tornus and Turnpike Gold use. PM are infrequently utilized in CTO-PCI and are associated with high success and acceptable complication rates.

Predictors of successful primary antegrade wiring in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Antegrade wiring is the most commonly used chronic total occlusion (CTO) crossing technique. METHODS: Using data from the PROGRESS CTO registry (Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention; Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02061436), we examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of CTO percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) performed using a primary antegrade wiring strategy. RESULTS: Of the 13 563 CTO PCIs performed at 46 centers between 2012 and 2023, a primary antegrade wiring strategy was used in 11 332 (83.6%). Upon multivariable logistic regression analysis, proximal cap ambiguity (odds ratio [OR]: 0.52; 95% CI, 0.46-0.59), side branch at the proximal cap (OR: 0.85; 95% CI, 0.77-0.95), blunt/no stump (OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.47-0.59), increasing lesion length (OR [per 10 mm increase]: 0.79; 95% CI, 0.76-0.81), moderate to severe calcification (OR: 0.73; 95% CI, 0.66-0.81), moderate to severe proximal tortuosity (OR: 0.67; 95% CI, 0.59-0.75), bifurcation at the distal cap (OR: 0.66; 95% CI, 0.59-0.73), left anterior descending artery CTO (OR [vs right coronary artery]: 1.44; 95% CI, 1.28-1.62) and left circumflex CTO (OR [vs right coronary artery]: 1.22; 95% CI, 1.07-1.40), non-in-stent restenosis lesion (OR: 0.56; 95% CI, 0.49-0.65), and good distal landing zone (OR: 1.18; 95% CI, 1.06-1.32) were independently associated with primary antegrade wiring crossing success. CONCLUSIONS: The use of antegrade wiring as the initial strategy was high (83.6%) in our registry. We identified several parameters associated with primary antegrade wiring success.

Emergency coronary artery bypass surgery after chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: Insights from the PROGRESS-CTO registry.

BACKGROUND: Emergency coronary artery bypass surgery (eCABG) is a serious complication of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI). METHODS: We examined the incidence and outcomes eCABG among 14,512 CTO PCIs performed between 2012 and 2023 in a large multicenter registry. RESULTS: The incidence of eCABG was 0.12% (n = 17). Mean age was 68 ± 6 years and 69% of the patients were men. The most common reason for eCABG was coronary perforation (70.6%). eCABG patients had larger target vessel diameter (3.36 ± 0.50 vs. 2.90 ± 0.52; p = 0.003), were more likely to have moderate/severe calcification (85.7% vs. 45.8%; p = 0.006), side branch at the proximal cap (91.7% vs. 55.4%; p = 0.025), and balloon undilatable lesions (50% vs. 7.4%; p = 0.001) and to have undergone retrograde crossing (64.7% vs. 30.8%, p = 0.006). eCABG cases had lower technical (35.3% vs. 86.7%; p < 0.001) and procedural (35.3% vs. 86.7%; p < 0.001) success and higher in-hospital mortality (35.3% vs. 0.4%; p < 0.001), coronary perforation (70.6% vs. 4.6%; p < 0.001), pericardiocentesis (47.1% vs. 0.8%; p < 0.001), and major bleeding (11.8% vs. 0.5%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of eCABG after CTO PCI was 0.12% and associated with high in-hospital mortality (35%). Coronary perforation was the most common reason for eCABG.

Equipment entrapment/loss during chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data on equipment loss or entrapment during chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We analyzed the baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics and outcomes of equipment loss/entrapment at 43 US and non-US centers between 2017 and 2023. RESULTS: Equipment loss/entrapment was reported in 40 (0.4%) of 10 719 cases during the study period. These included guidewire entrapment/fracture (n = 21), microcatheter entrapment/fracture (n = 11), stent loss (n = 8) and balloon entrapment/fracture/rupture (n = 5). The equipment loss/entrapment cases were more likely to have moderate to severe calcification, longer lesion length, higher J-CTO and PROGRESS-CTO complications scores, and use of the retrograde approach compared with the remaining cases. Retrieval was attempted in 71.4% of the guidewire, 90.9% of the microcatheter, 100% of the stent loss, and 100% of the balloon cases, and was successful in 26.7%, 30.0%, 50%, and 40% of the cases, respectively. Procedures complicated by equipment loss/entrapment had higher procedure and fluoroscopy time, contrast volume and patient air kerma radiation dose, lower procedural (60.0% vs 85.6%, P less than .001) and technical (75.0% vs 86.8%, P = .05) success, and higher incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (17.5% vs 1.8%, P less than .001), acute MI (7.5% vs 0.4%, P less than .001), emergency coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (2.5% vs 0.1%, P = .03), perforation (20.0% vs 4.9%, P less than .001), and death (7.5% vs 0.4%, P less than .001). CONCLUSIONS: Equipment loss is a rare complication of CTO PCI; it is more common in complex CTOs and is associated with lower technical success and higher MACE.

Comparative Analysis of Polymer Versus Non-Polymer Jacketed Wires in Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

There is significant variation in wire utilization patterns for chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of polymer-jacketed wires (PJWs) versus non-PJWs in anterograde procedures. We analyzed clinical and angiographic characteristics, and procedural outcomes of 7,575 anterograde CTO percutaneous coronary interventions that were performed at 47 centers between 2012 and 2023. Cases in which PJWs were exclusively used were classified in the PJW group, whereas cases where at least one non-PJW was employed were classified in the non-PJW group. Study end points were as follows: technical success, coronary perforation, major adverse cardiac event. PJWs were exclusively used in 3,481 cases (46.0%). These cases had lower prevalence of proximal cap ambiguity, blunt stump, and moderate/severe calcification. They also had lower Japanese CTO (J-CTO), Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion (PROGRESS-CTO), and PROGRESS-CTO complications scores, higher technical success (94.3% vs 85.7%, p <0.001), and lower perforation rates (2.2% vs 3.2%, p = 0.013). Major adverse cardiac event rates did not differ between groups (1.3% vs 1.5%, p = 0.53). Exclusive use of PJWs was independently associated with higher technical success in both the multivariable (odds ratio [OR] 2.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.13 to 3.36, p <0.001) and inverse probability of treatment weight analysis (OR 2.43, 95% CI 2.04 to 2.89, p <0.001). Exclusive use of PJWs was associated with lower risk of perforation in the multivariable analysis (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.95, p = 0.02), and showed a similar trend in the inverse probability of treatment weight analysis (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.04, p = 0.09). Exclusive use of PJWs is associated with higher technical success and lower perforation risk in this non-randomized series of patients.

Lesion complexity and procedural outcomes associated with ostial chronic total occlusions: Insights from the PROGRESS-CTO Registry.

OBJECTIVES: Ostial CTOs can be challenging to revascularize. We aim to describe the outcomes of ostial chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of 8788 CTO PCIs performed at 35 US and non-US centers between 2012 and 2022. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) included death, myocardial infarction, urgent repeat target-vessel revascularization, tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis or surgery, and stroke. RESULTS: Ostial CTOs constituted 12% of all CTOs. Patients with ostial CTOs had higher J-CTO score (2.9 ± 1.2 vs 2.3 ± 1.3; P less than .01). Ostial CTO PCI had lower technical (82% vs. 86%; P less than .01) and procedural (81% vs. 85%; P less than .01) success rates compared with non-ostial CTO PCI. Ostial location was not independently associated with technical success (OR 1.03, CI 95% 0.83-1.29 P =.73). Ostial CTO PCI had a trend towards higher incidence of MACE (2.6% vs. 1.8%; P =.06), driven by higher incidence of in-hospital death (0.9% vs 0.3% P less than.01) and stroke (0.5% vs 0.1% P less than .01). Ostial lesions required more often use of the retrograde approach (30% vs 9%; P less than .01). Ostial CTO PCI required longer procedure time (149 [103,204] vs 110 [72,160] min; P less than .01) and higher air kerma radiation dose (2.3 [1.3, 3.6] vs 2.0 [1.1, 3.5] Gray; P less than .01). CONCLUSIONS: Ostial CTOs are associated with higher lesion complexity and lower technical and procedural success rates. CTO PCI of ostial lesions is associated with frequent need for retrograde crossing, higher incidence of death and stroke, longer procedure time and higher radiation dose.

The Retrograde Approach to Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Interventions: Technical Analysis and Procedural Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Retrograde chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with lower success and higher complication rates when compared with the antegrade approach. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess contemporary techniques and outcomes of retrograde CTO PCI. METHODS: We examined the baseline characteristics, procedural techniques and outcomes of 4,058 retrograde CTO PCIs performed at 44 centers between 2012 and 2023. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) included any of the following in-hospital events: death, myocardial infarction, repeat target vessel revascularization, pericardiocentesis, cardiac surgery, and stroke. RESULTS: The average J-CTO (Multicenter CTO Registry in Japan) score was 3.1 ± 1.1. Retrograde crossing was successful in 60.5% and lesion crossing in 81.6% of cases. The collaterals pathways successfully used were septals in 62.0%, saphenous vein grafts in 17.4%, and epicardials in 19.1%. The technical and procedural success rates were 78.7% and 76.6%, respectively. When retrograde crossing failed, technical success was achieved in 50.3% of cases using the antegrade approach. In-hospital MACE was 3.5%. The clinical coronary perforation rate was 5.8%. The incidence of in-hospital MACE with retrograde true lumen crossing, just marker antegrade crossing, conventional reverse controlled antegrade and retrograde tracking (CART), contemporary reverse CART, extended reverse CART, guide-extension reverse CART, and CART was 2.1%, 0.8%, 5.5%, 3.0%, 2.1%, 3.2%, and 4.1%, respectively; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Retrograde CTO PCI is utilized in highly complex cases and yields moderate success rates with 5.8% perforation and 3.5% periprocedural MACE rates. Among retrograde crossing strategies, retrograde true lumen puncture was the safest. There is need for improvement of the efficacy and safety of retrograde CTO PCI.

Atrial fibrillation and chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention outcomes: insights from the Progress-CTO registry.

BACKGROUND: We examined the effect of atrial fibrillation on the outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We examined the baseline characteristics and procedural outcomes of 9,166 CTO PCIs performed at 39 US and non-US centers between 2012 and 2023. RESULTS: Atrial fibrillation was present in 1122 (12%) patients. These patients were older and had a higher incidence of comorbidities, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, and lower eGFR. Their CTOs were more likely to have moderate to severe calcification and longer lesion length. They also had higher mean J-CTO and PROGRESS-CTO complications (Acute MI, MACE, Mortality, Perforation, and Pericardiocentesis) scores. Patients with atrial fibrillation had higher prevalence of uncrossable and undilatable CTO lesions and required longer procedure (107 vs 119 min; P less than .001) and fluoroscopy (40 vs 43 min; P=.005) time. Technical success and MACE, including procedural/in-hospital bleeding, were similar in patients with and without atrial fibrillation. Although the crude incidence of MACE on follow-up (median 61 days) was significantly higher in patients with atrial fibrillation, the latter was not independently associated with adverse events on Cox proportional hazards analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing CTO PCI are older, have more comorbidities, higher lesion complexity, and longer procedure time, but similar technical success and in-hospital MACE. They have higher MACE and mortality during follow-up, but the difference is not significant after adjusting for potential confounding variables.

Impact of target vessel on the procedural techniques and outcomes of chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information on the impact of the target vessel on the procedural techniques and outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We analyzed the baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of 11,580 CTO PCIs performed between 2012 and 2022 at 44 centers. RESULTS: The most common CTO target vessel was the right coronary artery (RCA) (53.1%) followed by the left anterior descending artery (LAD) (26.0%) and the left circumflex artery (LCX) (19.8%). RCA CTOs were longer and more complex, with a higher Japanese CTO score compared with LAD or LCX CTOs. Technical success was higher among LAD (88.8%) lesions when compared with RCA (85.7%) or LCX (85.8%) lesions (P less than .001). The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was overall 1.9% (n = 220) and was similar among target vessels (P=.916). There was a tendency toward more frequent utilization of the retrograde approach for more proximal occlusions in all 3 target vessels. When compared with all other RCA lesions combined, distal RCA lesions had higher technical success (87.7% vs 85.3%; P=.048). Technical success was similar between various locations of LAD CTOs (P=.704). First/second/third obtuse marginal branch had lower technical success when compared with all other LCX lesion locations (82.7% vs 86.8%; P=.014). There was no association between MACE and CTO location in all 3 target vessels. CONCLUSIONS: LAD CTO PCIs had higher technical and procedural success rates among target vessels. The incidence of MACE was similar among target vessels and among various locations within the target vessel.

Trends and Outcomes of Antegrade Dissection and Re-Entry in Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: The contemporary frequency and outcomes of antegrade dissection and re-entry (ADR) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have received limited study. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and outcomes of ADR use in a large multicenter CTO PCI registry. METHODS: The characteristics and outcomes of ADR were examined among 12,568 patients who underwent 12,841 CTO PCIs at 46 U.S. and non-U.S. centers between 2012 and 2023. RESULTS: ADR was used in 2,385 of the procedures (18.6%). ADR use declined from 37.9% in 2012 to 14.5% in 2022 (P < 0.001). Patients in whom ADR was used had a high prevalence of comorbidities. Compared with cases that did not use ADR, ADR cases had more complex angiographic characteristics, higher mean J-CTO (Multicenter CTO Registry in Japan) score (2.94 ± 1.11 vs 2.23 ± 1.26; P < 0.001), lower technical success (77.0% vs 89.3%; P < 0.001), and higher in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (3.7% vs 1.6%; P < 0.001). The use of the CrossBoss declined from 71% in 2012 to 1.4% in 2022 and was associated with higher technical success (87%) compared with wire-based techniques (73%). The Stingray device displayed higher technical success (86%) compared with subintimal tracking and re-entry (STAR) (74%) and limited antegrade subintimal tracking (78%); however, its use has been decreasing, with STAR becoming the most used re-entry technique in 2022 (44% STAR vs 38% Stingray). CONCLUSIONS: The use of ADR has been decreasing. ADR was used in more complex lesions and was associated with lower technical success and higher major adverse cardiac events compared with non-ADR cases. There has been a decrease in Stingray use and an increase in the use of STAR for re-entry.

Artificial Intelligence, Computational Simulations, and Extended Reality in Cardiovascular Interventions.

Artificial intelligence, computational simulations, and extended reality, among other 21st century computational technologies, are changing the health care system. To collectively highlight the most recent advances and benefits of artificial intelligence, computational simulations, and extended reality in cardiovascular therapies, we coined the abbreviation AISER. The review particularly focuses on the following applications of AISER: 1) preprocedural planning and clinical decision making; 2) virtual clinical trials, and cardiovascular device research, development, and regulatory approval; and 3) education and training of interventional health care professionals and medical technology innovators. We also discuss the obstacles and constraints associated with the application of AISER technologies, as well as the proposed solutions. Interventional health care professionals, computer scientists, biomedical engineers, experts in bioinformatics and visualization, the device industry, ethics committees, and regulatory agencies are expected to streamline the use of AISER technologies in cardiovascular interventions and medicine in general.

Balloon-assisted subintimal entry (BASE) in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary interventions.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data on the use of the balloon-assisted subintimal entry (BASE) technique in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We analyzed the baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics and outcomes of 155 CTO PCIs that utilized the BASE technique at 31 US and non-US centers between 2016 and 2023. RESULTS: The BASE technique was used in 155 (7.9%) of 1968 antegrade dissection and re-entry (ADR) cases performed during the study period. The mean age was 66 ± 10 years, 88.9% of the patients were men, and the prevalence of diabetes (44.6%), hypertension (90.5%), and dyslipidemia (88.7%) was high. Compared with 1813 ADR cases that did not use BASE, the target vessel of the BASE cases was more commonly the RCA and less commonly the LAD. Lesions requiring BASE had longer occlusion length (42 ± 23 vs. 37 ± 23 mm, p = 0.011), higher Japanese CTO (J-CTO) (3.4 ± 1.0 vs. 3.0 ± 1.1, p < 0.001) and PROGRESS-CTO (Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention chronic total occlusion) (1.8 ± 1.0 vs. 1.5 ± 1.0, p = 0.008) scores, and were more likely to have proximal cap ambiguity, side branch at the proximal cap, blunt/no stump, moderate to severe calcification, and proximal tortuosity. Technical (71.6% vs. 75.5%, p = 0.334) and procedural success (71.6% vs. 72.8%, p = 0.821), as well as major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (1.3% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.124), were similar in ADR cases that used BASE and those that did not. CONCLUSIONS: The BASE technique is used in CTOs with longer occlusion length, higher J-CTO score, and more complex angiographic characteristics, and is associated with moderate success but also low MACE.

Impact of preprocedural anemia on in-hospital and follow-up outcomes of chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The impact of preprocedural anemia on the outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has received limited study. METHODS: We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of 8633 CTO PCIs performed at 39 US and non-US centers between 2012 and 2023. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin level of <13 g/dL in men and <12 g/dL in women. RESULTS: Anemia was present in 1652 (19%) patients undergoing CTO PCI. Anemic patients had a higher incidence of comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease. CTOs in anemic patients were more likely to have complex angiographic characteristics, including smaller diameter, longer length, moderate to severe calcification, and moderate to severe proximal tortuosity. Anemic patients required longer procedure (119 vs. 107 min; p < 0.001) and fluoroscopy (45 vs. 40 min; p < 0.001) times but received similar contrast volumes. Technical success was similar between the two groups. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rates were higher in patients with anemia; however, this association was no longer significant after adjusting for confounding factors. Baseline anemia was independently associated with follow-up MACE (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-2.49; p = 0.023) and all-cause mortality (adjusted HR: 3.03; 95% CI: 1.41-6.49; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Preprocedural anemia is associated with more comorbidities, higher lesion complexity, longer procedure times, and higher follow-up MACE and mortality after CTO PCI.