Search

Background: Balloon uncrossable lesions are defined as lesions that cannot be crossed with a balloon after successful guidewire crossing. Methods: We analyzed the association between balloon uncrossable lesions and procedural outcomes of 8671 chronic total occlusions (CTOs) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) performed between 2012 and 2022 at 41 centers. Results: The prevalence of balloon uncrossable lesions was 9.2%. The mean patient age was 64.2 ± 10 years and 80% were men. Patients with balloon uncrossable lesions were older (67.3 ± 9 vs. 63.9 ± 10, p < 0.001) and more likely to have prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (40% vs. 25%, p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (50% vs. 42%, p < 0.001) compared with patients who had balloon crossable lesions. In-stent restenosis (23% vs. 16%. p < 0.001), moderate/severe calcification (68% vs. 40%, p < 0.001), and moderate/severe proximal vessel tortuosity (36% vs. 25%, p < 0.001) were more common in balloon uncrossable lesions. Procedure time (132 (90, 197) vs. 109 (71, 160) min, p < 0.001) was longer and the air kerma radiation dose (2.55 (1.41, 4.23) vs. 1.97 (1.10, 3.40) min, p < 0.001) was higher in balloon uncrossable lesions, while these lesions displayed lower technical (91% vs. 99%, p < 0.001) and procedural (88% vs. 96%, p < 0.001) success rates and higher major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rates (3.14% vs. 1.49%, p < 0.001). Several techniques were required for balloon uncrossable lesions. Conclusion: In a contemporary, multicenter registry, 9.2% of the successfully crossed CTOs were initially balloon uncrossable. Balloon uncrossable lesions exhibited lower technical and procedural success rates and a higher risk of complications compared with balloon crossable lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence, treatment, and outcomes of balloon undilatable lesions encountered in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have received limited study. We examined the clinical characteristics and procedural outcomes of balloon undilatable lesions in the Prospective Global Registry for the Study of CTO Intervention (PROGRESS-CTO, NCT02061436). Of 6535 CTO PCIs performed between 2012 and 2022, 558 (8.5%) lesions were balloon undilatable. In this subset, patients were older (mean age 67 ± 10 vs. 64 ± 10, p < 0.001) and had higher prevalence of comorbidities: diabetes mellitus (54% vs. 40%, p < 0.001), prior PCI (71% vs. 59%, p < 0.001), prior myocardial infarction (52% vs. 45%, p = 0.003), and prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (44% vs. 25%, p < 0.001). The CTO lesion length was estimated to be 34 ± 23 mm, mean J-CTO score was 2.9 ± 1.1 and mean PROGRESS-CTO score was 1.4 ± 1.0. A cutting balloon was used in 27%, a scoring balloon in 15%, laser in 14%, rotational atherectomy in 28%, orbital atherectomy in 10%, intravascular lithotripsy in 1% and other modalities/approaches in 5%. Balloon undilatable lesions had lower technical success (90.9% vs. 93.8%, p = 0.007) and higher incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (composite of in-hospital death, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, re-PCI, emergency CABG, and pericardiocentesis) (5.0% versus 1.3%, p < 0.001). Approximately 1 in 12 CTO (8.5%) lesions are balloon undilatable. Treatment of balloon undilatable lesions is associated with lower technical success and higher in-hospital MACE. • Approximately 1/12 chronic total occlusion (8.5%) lesions are balloon undilatable • Balloon undilatable lesions had lower technical success (90.9% vs. 93.8%, p = 0.007) • Balloon undilatable lesions had higher MACE (5.0% versus 1.3%, p < 0.001) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary calcification is common and increases the difficulty of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We examined the impact of calcium on procedural outcomes of 13,079 CTO PCIs performed in 12,799 patients at 46 US and non-US centers between 2012 and 2023. Moderate or severe calcification was present in 46.6% of CTO lesions. Patients whose lesions were calcified were older and more likely to have had prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Calcified lesions were more complex with higher J-CTO score (3.0 ± 1.1 vs. 1.9 ± 1.2; p < 0.001) and lower technical (83.0% vs. 89.9%; p < 0.001) and procedural (81.0% vs. 89.1%; p < 0.001) success rates compared with mildly calcified or non-calcified CTO lesions. The retrograde approach was more commonly used among cases with moderate/severe calcification (40.3% vs. 23.5%; p < 0.001). Balloon angioplasty (76.6%) was the most common lesion preparation technique for calcified lesions, followed by rotational atherectomy (7.3%), laser atherectomy (3.4%) and, intravascular lithotripsy (3.4%). The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was higher in cases with moderate or severe calcification (3.0% vs. 1.2%; p < 0.001), as was the incidence of perforation (6.5% vs. 3.4%; p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, the presence of moderate/severe calcification was independently associated with lower technical success (odds ratio, OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.63–0.84) and higher MACE (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.66–3.27). Moderate/severe calcification was present in nearly half of CTO lesions, and was associated with higher utilization of the retrograde approach, lower technical and procedural success rates, and higher incidence of in-hospital MACE. • Moderate/severe calcification: • is present in nearly half of chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions • requires more frequent use of the retrograde approach • requires more frequent use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and advanced plaque modification techniques • is associated with lower technical and procedural success, and higher major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preprocedural coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) can be useful in procedural planning for chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We examined the clinical, angiographic and procedural characteristics and outcomes of cases with vs. without preprocedural CCTA in PROGRESS-CTO (NCT02061436). Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding factors. Of 7034 CTO PCI cases, preprocedural CCTA was used in 375 (5.3%) with increasing frequency over time. Patients with preprocedural CCTA had a higher prevalence of prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (39% vs. 27%, p < 0.001) and angiographically unfavorable characteristics including higher prevalence of proximal cap ambiguity (52% vs. 33%, p < 0.001) and moderate/severe calcification (59% vs. 41%, p < 0.001) compared with those without CCTA. CCTA helped resolve proximal cap ambiguity in 27%, identified significant calcium not seen on diagnostic angiography in 18%, changed estimated CTO length by >5 mm in 10%, and was performed as part of initial coronary artery disease work up in 19%. CCTA cases had higher J-CTO (2.6 ± 1.2 vs. 2.3 ± 1.3, p < 0.001) and PROGRESS-CTO (1.3 ± 1.0 vs. 1.2 ± 1.0 p = 0.027) scores. After adjusting for potential confounders, cases with preprocedural CCTA had similar technical success (odds ratio [OR]: 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83–1.67) and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (OR: 1.47, 95% CI, 0.72–3.00). Preprocedural CCTA was used in ~5% of CTO PCI cases. While CCTA may help with procedural planning, especially in complex cases, technical success and MACE were similar with or without CCTA. • Of the 7,034 CTO PCI procedures performed between 2012-2022, preprocedural CCTA was used in 375 (5.3%). • CCTA helped resolve proximal cap ambiguity in 27%, identified calcium in 18%, and changed the estimated CTO length in 10%. • On multivariable analysis preprocedural CCTA was not associated with technical success or major adverse cardiovascular events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with a considerable risk of complications, and risk stratification is of utmost importance. To assess the clinical usefulness of the recently developed PROGRESS-CTO (NCT02061436) complication risk scores in an independent cohort. Individual patient data pooled analysis of 3 registries was performed. Of the 4569 patients who underwent CTO PCI, 102 (2.2%) had major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Patients with MACE were older (69 ± 11 vs. 65 ± 10, p < 0.001), more likely to have a history of prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and unfavorable angiographic characteristics J-CTO score (2.4 ± 1.2 vs. 2.1 ± 1.3, p = 0.007), including blunt stump (59% vs. 49%, p = 0.047). Technical success was lower in patients with MACE (59% vs. 86%, p < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the PROGRESS-CTO complication risk models were as follows: MACE 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.67–0.76), mortality 0.73 (95% CI, 0.61–0.85), and pericardiocentesis 0.69 (95% CI, 0.62–0.77) in the validation dataset. The observed complication rates increased with higher PROGRESS-CTO complication scores. The PROGRESS-CTO MACE score showed good calibration in this external cohort, with MACE rates similar to the original study: 0.7% (score 0–1), 1.5% (score 2), 2.2% (score 3), 3.8% (score 4), 4.9% (score 5), 5.8% (score 6–7). Given the good discriminative performance, calibration, and ease of calculation, the PROGRESS-CTO complication scores could help assess the risk of complications in patients undergoing CTO PCI. • We evaluated the PROGRESS-CTO complication risk scores in an individual patient data pooled analysis of 3 CTO PCI registries. • The c-statistic of the models were 0.72, 0.73, and 0.69 for MACE, mortality, and pericardiocentesis, respectively. • The use of the PROGRESS-CTO complication risk should be considered to facilitate risk-benefit assessment in CTO PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]