A Novel Risk Score in Predicting Failure or Success for Antegrade Approach to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Chronic Total Occlusion: Antegrade CTO Score.

Total occlusion of a coronary artery for more than 3 months is defined as chronic total occlusion (CTO). The goal of this study was to develop a risk score in predicting failure or success during attempted percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of CTO lesions using antegrade approach. This study was based on retrospective analyses of clinical and angiographic characteristics of CTO lesions that were assessed between February 2012 and February 2014. Success rate was defined as passing through occlusion with successful stent deployment using an antegrade approach. A total of 188 patients were studied. Mean ± SD age was 59 ± 9 years. Failure rate was 33%. In a stepwise multivariate regression analysis, bridging collaterals (OR = 6.7, CI = 1.97-23.17, score = 2), absence of stump (OR = 5.8, CI = 1.95-17.9, score = 2), presence of calcification (OR = 3.21, CI = 1.46-7.07, score = 1), presence of bending (OR = 2.8, CI = 1.28-6.10, score = 1), presence of near side branch (OR = 2.7, CI = 1.08-6.57, score = 1), and absence of retrograde filling (OR = 2.5, CI = 1.03-6.17, score = 1) were independent predictors of PCI failure. A score of 7 or more was associated with 100% failure rate whereas a score of 2 or less was associated with over 80% success rate. Most factors associated with failure of CTO-PCI are related to lesion characteristics. A new risk score (range 0-8) is developed to predict CTO-PCI success or failure rate during antegrade approach as a guide before attempting PCI of CTO lesions.

The non-hyperemic coronary pressure notch as an indicator of the physiologic significance of coronary artery stenosis.

Myocardial fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a new index of the functional significance of intermediate coronary stenoses that is calculated from pressure measurements made during coronary arteriography. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between non-hyperemic coronary pressure dicrotic notch and fractional flow reserve (FFR). A consecutive of 114 patients (73 men and 41 women) was enrolled in this study. Data were shown as means ± SD. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software. The statistical significance of differences was determined by chi-square analysis with Yates correction. Significance was defined as P< 0.05. Positive dicrortic notch was observed in 97 patients (85%). Significant association was detected between coronary pressure notch (dicrotic notch), and FFR as loss of the dicrotic notch was detected in 93.8% (15/16) of patients with FFR less than 0.75 (P=0.001). Upon ROC curve, a cutoff FFR value of approximately 0.75 demonstrated sensivity and specifity of 93.8% and 98%, respectively for loss of the dicrotic notch. The positive predictive value for loss of the dicrotic notch was 88.2%. Our study demonstrated loss of non-hyperemic coronary pressure diacrotic notch correlates significantly with FFR and may predict an FFR < 0.75 with high accuracy. In patients with functionally significant coronary stenosis, loss of non-hyperemic diacrotic notch appears to be a useful index of the functional severity of the stenoses and the need for coronary revascularization.

Evaluation of effective factors in success rate of intervention on CTO.

UNLABELLED: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) intervention is still a challenging problem. The aim of this study is to determine factors that affect PCI results. METHOD AND RESULTS: The study was conducted on 72 patients in two centers. CTO angioplasty was done by the antegrade approach from the femoral and/or radial approach. The role of age, gender, anatomical variations such as calcification, length of the lesion, proximal bending, retrograde filling and occluded coronary artery (LAD, CCK or RCA), and wires were assessed. The success rate was 79.6%, and presence of calcification was an important factor in CTO PCI. Operator's experience, use of appropriate equipment and calcification are important factors in predicting a successful PCI.