CTO PCI carries low risk for procedural complications despite high success rates.

We developed a fast and simple CFD-powered virtual haemodynamic assessment model using only routine angiography and without requiring any invasive physiology measurements/hyperaemia induction. Virtual-FAI showed a high diagnostic performance and incremental value to QCA for predicting wire-FFR; this "less invasive" approach could have important implications for patient management and cost.

Objectives We sought to determine the contemporary prevalence and management of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) in a veteran population. Background The prevalence and management of CTOs in various populations has received limited study. Methods We collected clinical and angiographic data in consecutive patients that underwent coronary angiography at our institution between January 2011 and December 2012. Coronary artery disease (CAD) was defined as ≥50% diameter stenosis in ≥1 coronary artery. CTO was defined as total coronary artery occlusion of ≥3 month duration. Results Among 1,699 patients who underwent angiography during the study period, 20% did not have CAD, 20% had CAD and prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and 60% had CAD but no prior CABG. The prevalence of CTO among CAD patients with and without prior CABG was 89% and 31%, respectively. Compared to patients without CTO, CTO patients had more comorbidities, more extensive CAD and were more frequently referred for CABG. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to any vessel was performed with similar frequency in those with and without CTO (50% vs. 53%). CTO PCI was performed in 30% of patients without and 15% of patients with prior CABG with high technical (82% and 75%, respectively) and procedural success rates (80% and 73%, respectively). Conclusions In a contemporary veteran population, coronary CTOs are highly prevalent and are associated with more extensive comorbidities and higher likelihood for CABG referral. PCI was equally likely to be performed in patients with and without CTO.

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US Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program.

In patients who had previously undergone CABG surgery, transradial diagnostic coronary angiography was associated with greater contrast use, longer procedure time, and greater access crossover and operator radiation exposure compared with transfemoral angiography. (RADIAL Versus Femoral Access for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Angiography and Intervention [RADIAL-CABG] Trial; NCT01446263).

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