Why Treat Chronic Total Occlusion without Stents? - A Short Comment

Chronic total occlusions (CTO) of coronary arteries have been a focus point of research in interventional cardiology for several years. Recanalization, balloon dilatation and implantation of drug eluting stents (DES) are recognized treatment options for patients with symptomatic CTO. 

 

Chronic total occlusions

Recanalization of CTO ranks among the most complicated percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and the procedures are to be performed by well-equipped and experienced centers. During the last decades the procedural success rates increased due to improved technical equipment and increasing operator experience. It is still uncertain whether PCI is the optimal treatment method for CTO and it competes with coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) and medical treatment. Large retrospective registries have shown a reduction of adverse events and a clinical improvement after successful CTO PCI. Read More>>>>>>>