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Objective To compare vascular complications in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusions (CTO) using ultrasound guidance (USG) versus fluoroscopy guidance (FSG) for femoral access. Background In patients undergoing PCI, using the arterial femoral access increases the risk of vascular complications compared using the radial access. USG reduces time to access, number of attempts, and vascular complications compared with FSG, but the efficacy of USG has never been tested in the setting of CTO-PCI. Methods A total of 197 patients undergoing CTO-PCI using at least a femoral vascular access from November 2015 to September 2020 were screened. The primary outcome was a composite of local hematoma, pseudoaneurysm , retroperitoneal hemorrhage , arteriovenous fistula or hemoglobin drop ≥3 g/dL during hospitalization. The independent association between USG and the primary outcome of interest was explored. Results The primary outcome occurred in 17.3% of patients. Patients in the USG group had a significantly lower incidence of vascular complications compared with patients in the FSG group (8.5% vs. 21.0%, p = 0.039), driven by a reduction of localized hematomas (3.4% vs 13.0%, p = 0.042). After adjustment for type of CTO approach and heparin dose, USG was significantly associated with a reduced relative risk of the composite primary outcome (adjusted odds ratio 0.16, 95% confidence interval 0.05 to 0.51; p = 0.002). Conclusion USG in CTO-PCI is associated with a decreased risk of vascular complications, primarily driven by a reduction in local hematomas, especially in complex CTO-PCI where the larger use of heparin increases the risk of vascular complications.

Severe coronary artery calcification increases percutaneous treatment complexity and the risk of intraprocedural complications, affecting acute and long-term outcomes. Current use of specialty balloons and atherectomy technologies is limited due to the higher risk of complications, degree of technical difficulty and operator experience. Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) is a novel technology for severe calcified coronary artery disease that facilitates vessel preparation, enhancing vessel compliance. IVL system emits sonic waves that penetrate through vascular layers and disrupt both superficial and deep calcium, leaving the soft tissue unharmed. The purpose of the present review is to provide a summary of the evidence currently available on this therapy, including a practical description of the components and function of the shockwave coronary IVL system.

We sought to determine whether the chronic total occlusions (CTO) recanalization results differ between circumflex artery (CX) and other coronary arteries in our center. The study dataset encompassed 428 consecutive procedures. J-CTO score was highest in the right coronary artery (RCA) and lowest in CX lesions. After adjusting for the J-CTO score, age, body mass index, baseline creatinine, diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension the odds ratio for procedural success in CX compared to the other arteries was not statistically significant. We found no difference in success rates of recanalizing CTO in CX compared to other coronary arteries.