Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO)

Chronic total occlusion is a type of heart disease where an artery that supplies blood to the heart becomes completely blocked by plaque.

Without enough blood flow, the heart does not receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly.

Symptoms of chronic total occlusion

CTOs are very common, occuring in as many as 1 in 5 patients with significant coronary artery disease. With successful CTO intervention, patients typically experience immediate and dramatic symptom relief.

If you have a CTO, you may experience:

• Chest pain or chest tightness (angina)
  

• Shortness of breath
  

• Fatigue or always feeling tired
  

Treatment options for chronic total occlusion

If you have been diagnosed with CTO, your doctor may be able to use advanced technology and innovative techniques to restore blood flow.

Historically, people with a CTO would undergo open surgery for a coronoary bypass graft (CABG) surgery to increase blood flow to the heart. However, bypass surgery is not always an option for some patients because of a risk for complications.

Today, CTO is often treated through a minimally invasive technique called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or angioplasty. In this procedure, the blocked artery is opened using balloons and stents.

In recent years, the success rate for CTO PCI has improved to more than 85-90% in expert hands. As Greater Cincinnati's Heart Hospital^SM, we are proud to offer a full array of CTO treatment options tailored to your unique needs and sypmtoms.

Schedule an appoinment

If you have been diagnosed with CTO or are concerned about your symptoms, call 513-564-2447 to schedule an appointment.

CTO specialists at The Christ Hospital

Jarrod D. Frizzell, MD Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Critical Care Medicine The Christ Hospital Physicians - Heart & Vascular Primary Location The Christ Hospital Medical Office Building 2123 Auburn Ave, Suite 136 Cincinnati, OH 452192906 (513) 206-1060 39.1212062 -84.5103696 Areas of Interest Angiography, Angioplasty, Chronic Total Occlusions (CTO), Complex Coronary Artery Intervention See all View Profile View Locations (1) Accepting New Patients

James A. Kong, MD Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease The Christ Hospital Physicians - Heart & Vascular Primary Location The Christ Hospital Medical Office Building 2123 Auburn Ave, Suite 136 Cincinnati, OH 452192906 (513) 206-1060 39.1211546 -84.510667 Areas of Interest Angiography, Angioplasty, Cardiomyopathies, Chronic Total Occlusions (CTO) See all View Profile View Locations (2) Practice Details Schedule Online Accepting New Patients Offers Online Scheduling

Complete Coronary Revascularization in Higher-Risk and Indicated Patients Program  

The Christ Hospital Health Network's Complete Coronary Revascularization in Higher-Risk and Indicated Patients (CHIP) program offers treatments that restore blood flow to the heart (coronary revascularization) in high-risk patients. 

Our comprehensive program is dedicated to treating patients with complex coronary artery disease, including:

• Chronic total occlusion (CTO)
  

• Left main disease
  

• Multi-vessel coronary artery disease
  

• Calcified lesions that need minimally invasive surgery to remove (atherectomy)
  

• Bifurcation and trifurcation lesions
  

The CHIP team also evaluates treatment options for patients who:

• Have been told they do not qualify for bypass surgery due to risk factors
  

• Prefer to avoid open heart surgery
  

• Are looking for a second opinion.
  

For more information or to schedule an appointment call 513-564-2447 (CHIP).