Crossing Success Increases with Analysis of Chronic Total Occlusions

In an effort to evaluate a new treatment approach for clogged arteries, Dr. Fadi A. Saab, Dr. Jihad Mustapha and others recently performed a study, referred to as the CTOP Trial, that reviewed 114 patients who have peripheral vascular disease (PVD). This disease is present when poor blood flow to a patient’s limbs cause pain – and ultimately prompt amputations.

Saab, Mustapha and the additional authors evaluated 142 blocked arteries, also described as chronic total occlusion (CTO). These CTO lesions were classified into four different categories based on the beginning and the end of the blockage.

In order to treat these blockages and provide the necessary blood flow to a patient, lesions must be crossed. With the knowledge gained from this trial, physicians can make better decisions in how they approach and treat these lesions for optimum outcomes.

Study results showed that lesion crossing success can be predicted based on the category a CTO lesion is classified as. Results also allowed the authors to predict which blockings were easiest to cross and which required additional techniques.

As a result, complex blockings were crossed successfully by the authors in 98 percent of the cases. The traditional success rate of crossing these blockages in some instances is as low as 40 percent. These statistics demonstrate the significant importance of this study.

An expanded version detailing this study was recently published in the February 2018 issue of the Journal of Endovascular Therapy.