The Presence of a CTO in a Non–Infarct-Related Artery During a STEMI Treated With Contemporary Primary PCI Is Associated With Increased Rates of Early and Late Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality

In patients with a ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the prevalence of chronic total occlusion (CTO) in a non–infarct-related artery (non-IRA) is 8% to 15% [(1)][1] with 2-fold greater morbidity and mortality than in those with single-vessel disease (SVD) [(2)][2]. The TOTAL (