Procedural results and in-hospital outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction: Sub-analysis of the Japanese CTO-PCI Expert Registry

Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Total Occlusion and Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction - A Single-Center Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Analysis

BACKGROUND

The optimal treatment strategy for patients with coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) remains unclear. This study investigated the long-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and medical therapy (MT) in this specific patient cohort.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This retrospective cohort study included 987 consecutive patients with CTO and LVSD who met the inclusion criteria and underwent either CTO-PCI (n=277), CTO-CABG (n=222), or CTO-MT (n=488) between 2014 and 2020. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality during follow-up. Secondary endpoints were major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and their components, including cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, unplanned revascularization, and hospitalization for heart failure. During a median follow-up of 5.3 years, 232 (23.51%) patients died from any cause. In the unadjusted analysis, CTO-MT was associated with worse long-term survival prospects. After inverse probability of treatment weighting and variable adjustment, CTO-PCI and CTO-CABG demonstrated significant reductions in the long-term risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Notably, CTO-CABG was associated with the lowest long-term risks of MACCE, MI, unplanned revascularization, and hospitalization for heart failure.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with CTO and LVSD, successful CTO revascularization significantly improved long-term survival compared with CTO-MT. CTO-CABG can be regarded as the optimal treatment modality for better long-term prognosis.

Retrograde percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusions in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction: a single-center retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Data on the safety and prognostic implications of retrograde percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and chronic total occlusion (CTO) are unclear. This study aimed to assess the procedural results and long-term outcomes of retrograde CTO PCI in individuals with reduced LVEF (≤ 40%).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 836 consecutive patients who underwent elective retrograde CTO PCI at a single center between January 2011 and April 2023. Patients and lesion characteristics, procedural details and results, and long-term outcomes were compared between patients with reduced (LVEF ≤ 40%) and preserved left ventricular systolic function (LVEF > 40%) based on echocardiographic assessment.

RESULTS

Baseline LVEF ≤ 40% was presented in 156 (18.7%) patients. The collateral channel (CC) tracking success was high (overall 93.5%) and similar among the groups (94.2% vs. 93.4%, p = 0.835), as well as retrograde technical success (87.8% vs. 89.9%, p = 0.548) and recanalization success (87.8% vs. 91.5%, p = 0.281). Procedure complications were low and similar between the groups (all p > 0.05). Clinical follow-up was available in 767 (91.2%) patients with a medium follow-up of 1041 (531-1511) days. In patients with lower LVEF, the incidence of MACE was higher (23.2% vs. 14.9%, p = 0.021), mainly the all-cause mortality (15.4% vs. 4.1%, p < 0.001) and cardiac death (12.2% vs. 2.5%, p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that age (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.04, p = 0.008), LVEF ≤ 40% (HR: 1.21, 95%CI: 1.01-1.45, p = 0.039), and revascularization success (HR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.22-0.66, p < 0.001) were independently associated with MACE.

CONCLUSIONS

Retrograde PCI may represent a safe and efficient management strategy for patients with reduced LVEF and CTO. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that successful CTO recanalization was associated with a significant survival benefit, regardless of left ventricular systolic function.

The Characteristics of Primary Retrograde Approach Selection for Native Coronary Chronic Occlusion With Short Occlusion Length from the Japanese CTO-PCI Expert Registry

Although the coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) crossing algorithm has been published, the characteristics associated with the first strategy selection for short-length lesions <20 mm is still debatable. This study aimed to determine the characteristics associated with primary retrograde approach (PRA) for native CTO with short occlusion length in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Between January 2014 and December 2021, we examined data on 4,088 lesions in the Japanese CTO-PCI Expert Registry with occlusion lengths <20 mm. Then, the characteristics for short-length CTO, which was performed by way of the PRA, were assessed. PRA was performed in 785 patients (19.2%). The guidewire success rate was 93.6%, and the technical success rate was 91.3%. Previous coronary artery bypass grafting, chronic kidney disease, and 6 lesion/anatomic characteristics (i.e., blunt stump, distal runoff <1 mm, CTO lesion tortuosity, reattempt procedures, ostial location, and the presence of collateral channel grade 2) were associated with PRA (p <0.05). Moreover, hemodialysis was an independent factor of unsuccessful anterograde guidewire crossing, along with distal runoff <1 mm, the existence of calcification, and CTO lesion tortuosity (all p <0.05). In clinical settings, these independent factors for PRA in short-length CTO can help in selecting the CTO-PCI strategy.

Chronic Total Occlusion Interventions in Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

The goal of this paper is to review the current evidence surrounding CTO PCI in patients with low EF, the most high-risk population to treat. We also present pertinent case examples and offer practical tips to increase success and lower complications when performing CTO PCI in patients with low EF.

RECENT FINDINGS

In a prospective randomized control study, greater improvement in angina frequency and quality of life, assessed by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire, was achieved by CTO PCI compared to optimal medical therapy. Furthermore, after successful CTO PCI, improvements in health status were similar in patients with both low and normal EF. CTO PCI can not only ameliorate symptoms of angina in patients with low EF but may also potentially improve EF in carefully selected populations. However, information regarding treatment of this high-risk population is lacking and large-scale studies targeting patients with severely reduced EF remain necessary.