LAUSR

Background: Percutaneous recanalization of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) remains one of the biggest challenges in interventional cardiology and is known to be associated with higher complication rate compared to regular coronary angioplasty. The aim of the current study is to explore the frequency and clinical outcomes of patients with procedural complications. Methods: All patients with CTOs were included in prospective registry. CTO was defined as a total obstruction of a coronary artery with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade flow of 0 and duration of more than three months. Frequency of periprocedural complications were analyzed and all patients were followed-up for vital status. Results: For the purpose of current analysis we included 595 patients (66±10 years, 78% males) who underwent a total of 661 PCIs of chronic total occlusions. 623 procedures (94.3%) were successful with TIMI 3 final flow. In 10.9% (n=72) of the procedures there was a periprocedural complication defined as: coronary perforation (type I-III) 3.02% (n=20), puncture site haematoma 1.7%(n=11), coronary intramural haematoma 1.5%(n=10), coronary dissection n=5(0.8%). In 4 people (0.6%) there was perforation with formation of haemopericardium (type IV coronary perforation). On logistic regression analysis factors found to be significantly predictive for occurrence of complication were carotid artery disease (OR=4.794, CI: 1.718-13.374, p = 0.038) and renal failure (OR=1.774, CI: 1.060-2.967, p=0.016). At a median follow-up of 31 months (IQR 13-49) the overall death rate was 20.7% (n=123) and was significantly lower in noncomplicated vs complicated group (104/525, 19.8% vs 19/69, 27.5%, log-rank p=0.042). On Cox-regression analysis procedural complication was independent predictor of death (OR= 1.650, CI 1.011- 2.692, p= 0.042). Conclusion: In patients undergoing PCI for CTO the presence of periprocedural complication was independent predictors of mortality and these subjects had higher mortality rate at a median follow-up of 31 months.