Modelos europeos de telemedicina, como el servicio finlandés Medilux, permiten realizar consultas médicas online mediante un cuestionario clínico, sin acudir a una consulta presencial.

EuroPCR 2022 | The IMPROVED-CTO Trial

PCI success rate in chronic total occlusion (CTO), according to some registries, is below 80%. These failed revascularization procedures might lead to quality-of-life deterioration and shorter survival. This concern has driven the development of new techniques and technologies in an attempt to increase PCI success. Today, approximately 20% of CTOs are treated with a second procedure.

EuroPCR 2022 | The IMPROVED-CTO Trial

In this study, CTO plaque was modified with a technique also called Investment Technique, which consists of intentional dilation from proximal to distal cap with balloon, in patients with failed CTO PCI, aiming at improved success rate at repeat attempts. 

The aim was to determine whether drug coated balloons (DCB) could simplify a future procedure, reduce adverse events and improve procedural success vs. conventional balloons. 

This randomized multicenter study on 371 CTO patients, 44 with failed initial PCI (they randomized 22 patients to DCB and 22 to conventional balloon angioplasty). Primary end point was procedural success of second procedure, done 3 months after the first. Secondary end points were procedure duration, complexity, adverse events after one year and changes in quality of life. 

Read also: EuroPCR 2022 | Jenavalve Trilogy System: Valve for Severe Aortic Regurgitation.

The use of DCB resulted in increased procedural success the second time around, though non-significant (90% vs 81.8%), reduced procedural duration (33 vs 60min), lower amount of contrast (170 vs 334ml), reduced radiation exposure (1.7 vs 3.2 Gy). The composite of MACE at one year in addition to contrast induced nephropathy was better with DCB.

Dr. Omar Tupayachi

Dr. Omar Tupayachi.
Member of the Editorial Board of SOLACI.org.

Source: Presented by Amat-Santos, I. en EuroPCR 2022, París, Francia.


Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

Get the latest scientific articles on interventional cardiology

More articles by this author

EuroPCR 2026 | 10-Year Left Main PCI: When Survival Is Similar, Should the Less Invasive Strategy Prevail?

The primary goal of revascularization in left main coronary artery disease (LMCA) is to improve survival. However, debate continues regarding whether, in anatomically suitable...

EuroPCR 2026 | TAVI and Coronary Artery Disease: FFR-Guided PCI Showed Better Outcomes Than an Angiography-Guided Strategy

In patients undergoing TAVI, the concomitant presence of coronary artery disease continues to generate debate: whether coronary lesions should be treated before, during, or...

EuroPCR 2026 | Evolocumab Reduces Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Prior PCI Without Previous Myocardial Infarction: VESALIUS-CV Results

This presentation, delivered by Dr. Brian A. Bergmark and colleagues at EuroPCR 2026, detailed the results of the VESALIUS-CV trial, focusing specifically on the...

EuroPCR 2026 | Is It Safe to Stop Aspirin After One Month in MI Patients Undergoing PCI? TARGET-FIRST Analysis

This is a summary of the post-hoc analysis of the TARGET-FIRST study, presented by Dr. Giuseppe Tarantini at EuroPCR 2026, evaluating early aspirin discontinuation...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Articles

SOLACI Sessionsspot_img
Jornadas Guatemala 2026

Recent Articles

EuroPCR 2026 | TAVI in Women: Do Supra-Annular Valves Offer a True Hemodynamic Advantage?

Women represent a particularly challenging population for TAVI, as they often have smaller aortic annuli, greater frailty, and an increased risk of prosthesis-patient mismatch....

EuroPCR 2026 | TAVI or Surgery in Younger Patients? Quality of Life and 3-Year Outcomes from NOTION-2

The expansion of TAVI into younger and lower surgical-risk populations has sparked a new debate: beyond mortality and stroke, which strategy provides better functional...

EuroPCR 2026 | MELA Registry: Myval Showed Lower Aortic Regurgitation Rates in Patients With Large Aortic Annuli

This presentation, delivered by Dr. Salvatore Giordano at EuroPCR 2026, detailed the results of the MELA Registry, a multicenter study comparing the performance of...