Periprocedural and clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention of chronic total occlusions in patients with low- and mid-range ejection fractions

BACKGROUND: The benefit and safety of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to chronic total occlusions (CTO) in patients with low and mid-range left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) continue to be evidence limited. The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of LVEF in patients undergoing CTO PCI and to evaluate the mid-term clinical outcome of those with low and mid-range LVEF. We assessed the periprocedural and mid-term outcomes of 75 patients undergoing CTO PCIs according to pre-procedural LVEF: group (N), ≥ 50% (normal, nom.= 25); group (M), 40-49% (mid-range, nom.= 25); and group (L), < 40% (low, nom.= 25); within 6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: The prevalence of DM and chronic kidney disease (CKD) was significantly higher in low LVEF group (60%, p = 0.04 and 48%, p = 0.01 respectively). Apart from significantly lower contrast volume in patients with low LVEF (p = 0.04), there was no significant difference between the three groups regarding the procedural time, SYNTAX score and J-CTO score. We noticed similar procedural success in the three groups (88% vs. 84% vs. 76%, p = 0.521). LVEF category failed to predict procedural success (OR = 0.652, p = 0.268). There was a highly significant improvement in angina 6 months following intervention in normal LVEF group (p value < 0.001). Grade of dyspnea significantly improved 6 months following intervention in mid-range LVEF and low LVEF groups (p value = 0.04 and 0.031 respectively). There was no significant difference between the three groups regarding the reported MACCEs (12% vs. 16% vs. 28%, p = 0.268). CONCLUSION: CTO PCI represents an efficient and safe strategy in patients with low and mid-range LVEFs. Mid-term outcomes in these patients were significantly improved following successful CTO PCI, without higher risk of MACCE at 6 months follow-up.