In-hospital outcome of re-attempted percutaneous coronary interventions for chronic total occlusion

Abstract

Background

With the advent of novel recanalization techniques and emerging devices, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become a promising leading treatment option for patients with chronic total occlusions (CTO). The present study aims to evaluate the acute outcomes of PCI in previously failed re-attempted vs. first-attempted CTO-lesions.

Methods

Between 2012 and 2019, 619 patients were included and treated with PCI of at least one CTO. 253 patients were re-attempted lesions, while 366 were initially attempted lesions.

Results

Re-attempted lesions were more complex, including higher Japanese-CTO (J-CTO) score and the need for a retrograde approach. The procedure time and fluoroscopy time were longer in this group. Nevertheless, overall success rates were comparable between both groups of patients. In-hospital events were rare and without significant differences.

Conclusions

Re-attempted CTO lesions are more complex than first-attempt lesions and are associated with longer procedural times. However, they can be safely intervened by experienced operators with a similar success rate.

Introduction

Recanalization of chronic total occlusion (CTO) still remains a challenging procedure in interventional cardiology. A CTO of a coronary artery can be identified in up to 18% among patients referred for coronary angiography [1]. With the advent of novel recanalization techniques and emerging devices, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become a promising leading treatment option for these patients [2–7].

Previous observational studies have demonstrated that successful CTO-PCI is associated with a better outcome in terms of reduced mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) compared with CTO-PCI failure [8–11]. Several scores are currently used to estimate the procedural complexity of a CTO, but the Japanese-CTO (J-CTO) score is still the most widely used [12–14]. J-CTO identifies a prior CTO-PCI failure as one of the five determinants to estimate the procedural complexity of a CTO-PCI. A considerable number of patients with failed CTO-PCI attempt are medically managed, instead of re-attempting the PCI [15]. The current literature provides only limited data about this challenging patient subgroup.

The present study aims to compare the acute outcomes of re-attempted CTO-PCI vs. first-attempt CTO-PCI.

Methods

The present study was designed as an observational retrospective study, including patients undergoing CTO-PCI in an experienced German CTO center between 2012 and 2019. The indication for CTO-PCI was based on current recommendations requiring the presence of clinical symptoms, including angina, dyspnea or limited exercise capacity [16–18]. Myocardial viability was proven either by evidence of normal wall motion or hypokinesia in the CTO territory, assessed by transthoracic echocardiography. In the presence of akinesia in the CTO-territory, positive functional ischemia/viability was proven by stress-echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI).

All procedures were performed via bifemoral approach using 7-French guiding catheters. Contra-lateral contrast injections were performed to determine the length of the CTO lesion and the existence and extent of collateral connections in the majority of patients. The decision to treat patients either by antegrade or retrograde CTO-PCI techniques was left to the operators’ discretion. To prevent thromboembolic complications, heparin was intravenously administered during CTO-PCI, guided by regular measurements of the activated clotting time (> 300 s).

The J-CTO score, including the degree of calcification of the lesion, bending > 45° in the CTO segment or at the entry, blunt proximal cap, length of occluded segment (> 20 mm) and a previously failed recanalization attempt, was calculated for all patients. The study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

After CTO-PCI a dual antiplatelet therapy consisting of 100 mg of acetylsalicylic acid once daily indefinitely and 75 mg of clopidogrel once daily for at least 6 months was administered. Angiographic success was defined as a successful recanalization of the CTO with a residual stenosis less than 30% and restoration of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI)-flow grade 3.

A composite safety endpoint combining inhospital death, vascular complications, cardiac tamponade, periprocedural infarction and an acute stent thrombosis was evaluated for every patient.

Statistical analysis

Continuous variables are presented as mean standard deviation, median (Q1–Q3) or as minimum to maximum range. Categorical variables are presented as absolute and relative frequencies. Normality of the variables was tested with the Shapiro-Wilk test. Continuous variables were compared with the Student t-test for unpaired samples, or with the Mann-Whitney U-test if a Gaussian distribution could not be assumed. For comparison of continuous variables among > two categories were performed with non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. Categorical variables were compared using the Fisher exact test. According to the exploratory character of the analysis all p values were interpreted as descriptive measures rather than as definitive inferential measures. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant, p < 0.10 was considered as a statistical trend.

Results

A total of 619 patients were included between 2012 and 2019. 253 (40.9%) patients were reattempted lesions that had failed once previously, while 366 (59.1%) were initially attempted lesions.

The majority of the patients were male (82.4%) and the mean age was 62.0 ± 10.3 years. Male patients were younger than women (61.1 ± 10.1 years vs. 66.3 ± 10.1 years; p < 0.005).

Table 1 presents the baseline clinical characteristics of the study patients. The major cardiovascular risk factors were similar between both groups, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Furthermore, the rates of comorbidities like peripheral artery disease were comparable as well. Patients with a re-attempted lesion were less likely to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (7.1% vs. 11.7%; statistical trend p = 0.074) and more often had an ejection fraction of more than 40% (97.2% vs. 94.0%; statistical trend p = 0.080). Interestingly the target vessel in these patients was mostly the right coronary artery (RCA; 65.2%), followed by the left anterior descending artery (LAD; 20.6%) and the left circumflex artery (LCX; 14.2%). Patients with an initially attempted lesion had a different distribution (RCA: 54.9%, LAD: 32.5%, LCX: 10.9%; p = 0.003) and more often a multivessel coronary artery disease (79.0% vs. 67.9%; p = 0.005). The success (p = 1.000) and complication rates (p = 0.385) were independent of the target vessel.

Table 1.

Baseline characteristics.

	Initial attempt (n = 366)	Re-attempt (n = 253)	P
Age [years]*	62 (37–86)	61 (33–87)	0.114
Hypertension	81.4% (298)	81.4% (206)	1
Diabetes	27.3% (100)	24.1% (61)	0.402
Male gender	83.6% (306)	80.6% (204)	0.391
Smoking	44.8% (164)	47.8% (121)	0.462
COPD	11.7% (43)	7.1% (18)	0.074
Body mass index*	27.5 (18.0–46.7)	27.4 (17.0–45.0)	0.604
Total cholesterol > 200 mg/dL	21.2% (49)	17.9% (35)	0.464
LDL cholesterol > 100 mg/dL	48.5% (112)	47.7% (93)	0.923
HDL cholesterol > 40 mg/dL	68.0% (157)	67.7% (132)	1
Triglycerides > 150 mg/dL	45.9% (106)	48.2% (94)	0.697
Peripheral artery disease	12.0% (44)	12.3% (31)	1
Family liability for CAD	28.1% (103)	26.1% (66)	0.583
Prior MI	30.9% (113)	37.5% (95)	0.100
Prior CABG	9.6% (35)	9.1% (23)	0.889
Prior PCI	47.3% (238)	43.5% (32)	0.367
Ejection fraction ≥ 40%	94.0% (505)	97.2% (66)	0.080
Multivessel disease	79.0% (289)	67.9% (172)	0.003
CTO location:			0.003
LAD	32.5% (119)	20.6% (52)
LCX	10.9% (40)	14.2% (36)
RCA	54.9% (201)	65.2% (165)

^*Median (min–max);

CABG — coronary artery bypass grafting; CAD — coronary artery disease; COPD — chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CTO — chronic total occlusion; HDL — high density lipoprotein; LAD — left anterior descending; LDL — low density lipoprotein; LCX — left circumflex; MI — myocardial infarction; PCI — percutaneous coronary intervention; RCA — right coronary artery

Peri-procedural characteristics are demonstrated in Table 2. Patients with a re-attempted lesion had more often a blunt stump morphology (70.0% vs. 58.2%, p = 0.003) and a higher J-CTO score (62.5% vs. 18.6%, p ≤ 0.001; Fig. 1). It was also determined that examination and fluoroscopy time were longer in this group (120 min vs. 90 min, p < 0.001 and 37 min vs. 28 min, p < 0.001; Fig. 2) and that in this group of patients the retrograde approach was more frequently used (32.4% vs. 12.0%, p < 0.001). Patients with an initially attempted lesion were less likely to have an ostial lesion (8.7% vs. 14.2%, p = 0.036) and showed rarely an in-stent CTO (6.3% vs. 18.2%, p < 0.001).

Table 2.

Procedural and angiographic characteristics.

	Initial attempt (n = 366)	Re-attempt (n = 253)	P
Complication rate	6.0% (22)	4.0% (11)	0.467
Success rate	86.9% (318)	83.0% (210)	0.204
Calcification	65.6% (240)	77.5% (196)	0.002
Length of lesion [mm]*	30 (10–100)	30 (10–79)	0.240
In-stent CTO	6.3% (23)	18.2% (46)	< 0.001
Blunt stump	58.2% (213)	70.0% (177)	0.003
Ostial CTO	8.7% (32)	14.2% (36)	0.036
J-CTO score > 3	18.6% (68)	62.5% (158)	< 0.001
Retrograde technique	12.0% (44)	32.4% (82)	< 0.001
Stent type:			0.686
DES	99.1% (457)	98.6% (47)
BMS	0.9% (3)	1.4% (3)
Diameter of stent [mm]*	3.0 (2.25–4.0)	3.0 (2.5–4.0)	0.332
Lenght of stent [mm]*	62 (12–157)	64 (18–170)	0.955
Number of stents*	2 (0–6)	2 (0–6)	0.490
Amount of contrast medium [mL]*	200 (70–750)	200 (80–800)	0.161
Fluoroscopy time [min]*	28 (4–113)	37 (7–104)	< 0.001
Examination time [min]*	90 (11–208)	120 (20–300)	< 0.001

^*Median (min–max),

BMS — bare metal stent; CTO — chronic total occlusion; DES — drug eluting stent; J-CTO — Japanese CTO

Figure 1.

Various parameters of initial attempted and re-attempted chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention reflecting the complexity of the lesions.

Figure 2.

Comparison of initial attempted and re-attempted chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention regarding examination and fluoroscopy time.

The most frequent reason for failure in reattempted CTO lesions was the failure of the guidewire to cross the lesion. No procedure was discontinued due to complications.

Overall success rates were comparable between the two group of patients (86.9% vs. 83.0%, p = 0.204).

Reverse controlled antegrade and retrograde tracking and parallel-wire techniques were more frequently used in re-attempted than in first-attempt lesions (67.1% vs. 41%, p < 0.001 and 24.4% vs. 8.9%, p < 0.001, respectively).

In-hospital, acute procedural complications regarding the composite safety endpoint were rare and showed no significant difference (6.0% vs. 4.0%, p = 0.467). They included mostly vascular complications (n = 26) such as a local hematoma at the puncture site and could be treated without further consequences. No severe complications such as peri-procedural death, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction occurred (Table 3).

Table 3.

In-hospital events.

	Initial attempt (n = 366)	Re-attempt (n = 253)
In-hospital death	0	0
Vascular complications	17	9
Cardiac tamponade	4	0
Stroke	1	0
Myocardial infarction	0	0

Patients without a successful recanalization in a second attempt were treated medically in 69%, whilst 31% underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Discussion

According to available research itis known that an incomplete revascularization is accompanied by increased adverse events [19, 20]. Therefore, it should be a goal to perform a successful recanalization even after a failed CTO-PCI attempt.

In a large meta-analysis with more than 7000 patients, Joyal et al. [21] demonstrated that successful CTO-PCI compared to a failed attempt could show a reduction, not only in long-term mortality, but also the need for CABG. Furthermore, van der Schaaf et al. [22] showed that the presence of a non-revascularized CTO increases the long-term mortality in a case of acute myocardial infarction [21, 22]. As is done nowadays, CTO-PCI can be performed in a safe and sufficient way by most CTO centers, the present study emphasizes several important aspects of CTO-PCI in re-attempted cases.

Firstly, the present study, in contrast to other studies, it was shown that recanalization of reattempted lesion can be performed with similar success and complication rates compared with first-attempt lesions [19]. This is the case, even though our data suggests a higher complexity in re-attempted lesions than in firs-attempt cases, as indicated by the higher J-CTO score. The fact that all cases in the study were performed by two highly-experienced CTO operators, might have also played an instrumental role in the excellent results reported.

Despite the fact that a re-attempt itself is counted as a point of complexity in the J-CTO score, it was determined that calcification, tortuosity and blunt stump morphology were significantly increased in patients with a re-attempt. These findings are in accordance with data from Tanabe et al. [19]. But, in that study only about 300 patients, 59 with a re-attempted lesion, were included and the success rate was much lower in the patients with re-attempted lesions (69.5%) due to the fact that treatment devices failed to cross even after successful guidewire crossing. In a large Japanese CTO registry, more than 4000 patients were included and the technical success rate of re-attempt CTO-PCI was lower than that of first attempt CTO-PCI, but the mean age of this cohort was much older than in our study [23].

Second, re-attempted CTO lesions required complex interventional approaches, for instance the retrograde approach, with longer fluoroscopic and examination times. This finding is congruent to a large multicenter registry from 2015 which showed that the mean procedure duration was significantly longer in the group with prior failed CTO-PCI attempts (142 vs. 125 min, p = 0.026), as was mean fluoroscopy time (55 vs. 45 min, p = 0.015) [24].

As shown by the large EURO CTO Club registry that the number of retrograde procedures has been continually increasing over recent years, based on the higher complexity of lesion subsets, giving us more technical options to increase the success rates in CTO-PCI, despite low rates of major complications, and good long-term outcome. This has recently been confirmed by the data of Tanaka et al. [25, 26]. Wei et al. [27] examined 2124 patients who received cardiac fluoroscopic interventions and found that a chronic skin ulcer developed in 0.34%. Since then, there have been significant reductions in radiation doses over time by introducing new techniques and changes in fluoroscopy settings [27–30].

Third, re-attempted lesions are often in-stent lesions. This is in accordance with a large study by Karacsonyi et al. [24] comprising 1213 consecutive patients from 12 centers in the United States between 2012 and 2015. Interestingly, in contrast to the present study, this cohort the incidence of MACE was numerically higher among prior failed cases [24]. It should be pointed out that PCI for instent CTO might be associated with higher odds of MACE and myocardial infarction compared to PCI for de-novo CTO [31]. Finally, the current study demonstrated that RCA was the target vessel in both groups. Interestingly CTOs located in the LAD artery were more often treated in the setting of re-attempted PCI.

Since it is known that especially after a successful recanalization of the LAD, ejection fraction and clinical outcome may improve [32–34], efforts should focus on revascularization of this vessel.

Limitations of the study

The present study is a retrospective analysis and all data are collected from a single center. The results of this study may have been influenced by selection criteria, bias on operator’s experience, and varying techniques used by the two operators involved. Furthermore, no data about the impact of the long-term follow-up in this cohort is reported.

Conclusions

Percutaneous coronary intervention of reattempted CTO lesions are as safe as primary CTO attempts, with comparable success rates. PCI of re-attempted CTO lesions has shown higher anatomical complexity, requiring a more complex approach, including retrograde techniques and longer procedures times, for successful revascularization.