Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Evidence and Controversies
Tajti P, Brilakis ES.

KEYWORDS
chronic total occlusion; complex coronary intervention; percutaneous coronary intervention; stable coronary artery disease

Coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs) are defined as 100% occlusions with TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) 0 flow with at least a 3‐month duration. Treatment options for patients with coronary CTOs include lifestyle changes and medications (as is appropriate for all patients with coronary artery disease) and coronary revascularization with either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In the previous version of the appropriateness use criteria for coronary revascularization, revascularization recommendations were different for patients with and without a coronary CTO, but this is no longer the case in the current (2016 and 2017) versions.