OBJECTIVETo assess the technique and outcomes of coronary intervention treatment for patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions.

METHODSRetrospectively analyzed the data from 1148 patients with CTO who were treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between June 1993 and December 2004. There were 1494 CTO lesions in 1458 vessels with a mean occlusion time of (49.1 +/- 31.6) months. A total of 1499 stents were implanted to those target lesions.

RESULTSTotal success rates of patients and lesions were 90.2% (1036/1148) and 88.2% (1317/1494), respectively. The success rate of PCI was declined in CTO lesions with long occlusion time, stump missing, bridging collaterals and >or= 15 mm in length (P < 0.05). Operative failures were occurred in 112 patients. Guide wire and balloon failed to pass through the occlusion accounted for 82.1% and 17.9% of all failures respectively. No death was occurred during operation, but 2 patients suffered from acute stent thrombosis and other 9 patients suffered from acute or later pericardium perforation. After procedure, there were 3 patients died and 3 patients suffered from subacute stent thrombosis during in-hospital period. The total in-hospital major adverse cardiac events rate was 0.6% (7/1148). The angina-free survival rate was 87.1% at discharge.

CONCLUSIONIn an experienced heart center, it is possible to obtain a relatively high success rate of PCI and ideal clinical outcomes in patients with CTO coronary lesions.