International Journal of Gerontology (Sep 2014)
Improving Success Rates of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion at a Rural Hospital in East Taiwan
Abstract
Background: We aimed to report the results of percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion (CTO) in a remote hospital of southeast Taiwan that does not have on-site coronary artery bypass graft support and has insufficient medical resources. Methods: From 2006 to 2009, we identified 96 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and whose coronary angiogram showed CTO lesions. On-site cardiovascular surgeons were unavailable from 2006 to 2009. Results: The success rate (test for trend, p = 0.02) and numbers of guidewires used (test for trend, p = 0.59) significantly increased from 2006 to 2009, and the procedural time reduced significantly (test for trend, p = 0.001). The volume of contrast media injected decreased, although this result was not statistically significant (p = 0.70). Conclusion: Our experience in managing CTO lesions substantially improved and the procedural time reduced over 4 years, even when constrained by a relative shortage of medical resources.
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