Impact of Aggressive Endovascular Recanalization Techniques on Success Rate in Chronic Total Arterial Occlusions (CTOs)

Purpose: To report experience with aggressive recanalization approaches in chronic total arterial occlusion (CTO). Methods: Chronic total arterial occlusion recanalization was attempted on 112 limbs in 99 consecutive patients between January 1999 and December 2006. Results: There were 63 iliac arteries, 45 femoropopliteal arteries, and 4 occluded stents. Mean occlusion length was 8.7 ± 4.7 cm. Conventional recanalization was attempted first and was successful in 71 limbs (70%). Probing with the guidewire’s stiff end was attempted in 33 of the 41 procedures where conventional techniques failed and was successful in 18 (54%), improving the overall procedural success rate to 80%. For the remaining 15 limbs, home-made directional sharp needle recanalization was attempted in 11 and was successful in 9 (82%), further improving the overall recanalization success to 88%. Procedural complications were self-limited or managed nonoperatively. Conclusions: Aggressive recanalization techniques in CTO following failure of traditional means are safe and can substantially improve procedural success rates.