Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background: The effect of selecting the initial crossing strategy using the global chronic total occlusion (CTO) crossing algorithm on the outcomes of CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been studied.
Methods: We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of 13,852 CTO PCIs at 43 US and non-US centers between 2012 and 2025. Adherence to the global CTO crossing algorithm was defined using three key case characteristics - proximal cap ambiguity, poor distal vessel quality, and use of antegrade dissection/re-entry (ADR) as the primary strategy (Figure 1).
Results: Among 13,852 CTO PCIs, 70% (n=9,693) adhered to the global CTO crossing algorithm. Adherence remained consistent over time. Patients in the discordant group (non-adherent) were younger and more likely to have a history of myocardial infarction (MI) rates, while the concordant group (adherent) had more unstable angina presentations and ad hoc procedures. Discordant cases more frequently targeted the right coronary artery (61.5% vs 49.4%, p<0.001) and exhibited greater complexity: longer occlusions, proximal cap ambiguity, blunt/no stump, poor distal vessel quality, and calcification (all p<0.001). Discordant lesions also had higher J-CTO (2.8±1.2 vs 2.1±1.1; p=0.001) and PROGRESS-CTO complication scores. The retrograde approach was utilized more often as the primary crossing strategy in concordant cases (15.3% vs 4.4%; p<0.001) but was less often the successful crossing strategy (14.9% vs 28.1%; p<0.001). Discordant procedures required more stents, longer duration, higher contrast volume, fluoroscopy time, and radiation dose (all p<0.001). Algorithm adherence was associated with higher crossing success with the initially selected technique (72.5% vs 49.4%), technical (87.9% vs 85.6%), and procedural success (86.7% vs 84.2%) (all p<0.001). The incidence of perforation was lower in concordant cases (4.1% vs 6.1%; p<0.001), although major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were comparable. On multivariable analysis algorithm adherence was independently associated with technical success (odds ratio 1.24; 95% confidence interval 1.06 – 1.44; p=0.007).
Conclusions: Adhering to the global CTO crossing algorithm for initial crossing strategy selection is associated with higher likelihood of success with the initial strategy, better technical success rates, and similar in-hospital MACE.