Various Scoring Systems for Predicting Revascularization of Chronic Coronary Total Occlusion by Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ()
1. Introduction
Percutaneous revascularization of coronary chronic total occlusion is a technically challenging procedure in interventional cardiology worldwide [1] . Although, success rate of treating these occlusions is only 65% - 70% even in experienced hands [2] , significant clinical benefits to the patients has been associated after successful CTO recanalization [3] . These benefits include improved symptoms of angina and dyspnoea, decrease need for anti-anginal medications, improved left ventricular function, decreased need for CABG, and improved survival [4] [5] . However, several factors influence its success especially patient clinical characteristics, lesion complexity, and operator experience [6] . Hence, various scoring systems were developed (i.e. J-CTO score, CT-RECTOR score, CL score, PROGRESS CTO score, ORA score, and Ellis score) (Table 1) to predict the probability of successful intervention and a better selection of both patient and operator. Here, we discuss these scoring systems and compare their validity and efficacy in predicting successful revascularization in CTO patient.
2. Scoring Systems
We searched Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CNKI for articles from 2011 to 2018. Search items were “chronic total occlusion”, “percutaneous coronary intervention”, “scoring systems”, “predictablity”. We selected six clinically used scoring systems. The first and globally accepted scoring system (J-CTO score) was developed in 2011 by Morino et al. [7] Independent predictors included blunt stump, calcification, bending, occlusion length > 20 mm, and previously failed attempt. After several years J-CTO score, CT-RECTOR (Computed tomography registry of chronic total occlusion revascularization) score was developed by Opolski et al. in 2015 [8] . It used non-invasive investigation of coronary computed tomography angiography to predict difficult in CTO re-vascularization. A total of 240 consecutive CTO lesions from 4 centres in Germany were analysed. They also predicted the probability of successful guidewire crossing ≤ 30 min. All CCTA were performed 4 weeks prior to percutaneous coronary intervention. Six independent predictors were included i.e. presence of multiple occlusion, blunt stump at entry or exit site, severe calcification, bending ≥ 45˚, previously failed PCI at CTO, and duration of CTO ≥ 12 months or unknown. Clinical and Lesion (CL) related score was presented by Alessandrino et al. to predict PCI success in CTO [9] . It was developed based on both clinical and angiographic parameters of 1671 consecutive patients with CTO lesion. Successful procedure was defined as the achievement of < 30% residual diameter stenosis as assessed by CAG and associated with TIMI grade 3. Independent predictive variables were severely calcified lesion, previous CABG, lesion length ≥ 20 mm, previous MI, blunt stump, and non-LAD CTO location, and were scored according to their odd ratio. Only severe calcification was assigned as independent predictor.
In 2016, Christopoulos et al. developed a novel parsimonious score (PROGRESS CTO) to predict technical success of CTO PCI performed using hybrid approach [10] . Technical success was defined as successful CTO revascularization with < 30% residual diameter stenosis within the treated segment and
Table 1. General information on scoring systems.
restoration of TIMI flow grade 3. A total of 781 CTO patients were analysed clinically and angiographically. Four variables were assigned considering their strong association with technical success of CTO. Variables were proximal cap ambiguity, absence of interventional collaterals, moderate/severe tortuosity, circumflex CTO. Circumflex CTO was predicted as a factor associated with technical failure because of its relatively increased tortuosity, the less frequent presence of interventional collaterals, and hence lower success rate. Alfredo et al. developed a novel predictive score that included Ostial location, Rentrop collateral filling grade, and Age (ORA) [11] . Although univariate correlates of technical failure included age ≥ 75 years, history of MI, prior PCI, left ventricular ejection fraction < 50%, previous attempt, ostial location, blunt stump, collateral filling Rentrop grade < 2, disease of distal segment of CTO artery, multivariable analysis only found 3 variables (age ≥ 75, Rentrop grade < 2, and ostial location) as independent predictors of technical failure.
Recently, Ellis et al. developed Ellis score for predicting successful hybrid-approach chronic total coronary artery occlusion stenting in 2017 [12] . According to them, the initial determination of difficult revascularization is dependent on ambiguous cap proximal cap. Other predictors included specifically defined collateral score (combination of Werner and tortuosity scores), retrograde tortuosity, poor distal target, occlusion length > 10 mm, ostial location, and 1 operator variable.
3. Discussions
Several factors influence successful CTO revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention. These factors can be broadly classified as patient related factors and operator related factors. Additionally, patient related factors can be further divided into clinical related and CTO lesion related factors. We have already mentioned several predictive scoring systems for procedural and technical success. Some predictive factors are common among scoring systems while some are specific to a specific scoring system. Similarly, procedural success is heavily dependent on operator experience and expertise [13] . Experienced operators can achieve > 85% of success rates even in complex and difficult patient groups [14] . However, reopening rate is only 60% when performed by less experienced operators. In these cases, patient may need CABG because of unsuccessful percutaneous intervention [15] . Sharma et al. and Scott et al. emphasized the need of proctorship to improve CTO PCI skills, and found useful in patients with J-CTO score ≥ 2 with success rate improving from 49.5% to 70.7% [16] [17] .
J-CTO score was widely used before the development of other scoring systems. Recently, the impact of J-CTO score on procedural outcome and target lesion revascularization after PCI was also studied by Hiroyuki et al. [18] . The TLR rates at 1 year were 5.3%, 11.1%, 16.7%, and 13.4% of patients with J-CTO score of 0, 1, 2, and ≥ 3 respectively. Patients with lower J-CTO score achieved a high procedural success rate and increased TLR-free survival rate. In case of multiple occlusion and severe calcification, CCTA would be a better choice than coronary angiography and studies have also demonstrated that severe calcification is independently related to successful CTO PCI [19] . Studies have shown CTO lesions with severe calcification involving ≥ 50% of vessel cross sectional area are more prone to PCI failure [20] . Additionally, different stages of CTO also influence revascularization success. An early stage/short duration CTO has more favourable procedural outcome than the late stage/long duration CTO [21] . CTO duration was also emphasized in CT-RECTOR score. According to Yahang et al. [22] , CT-RECTOR score represents more accurate non-invasive tool in predicting time-efficient GW crossing than J-CTO score.
In addition to lesion complexity, clinical variables have also shown negative impact on procedural success. According to Guelker et al. [23] , CL score predicted more precisely the interventional results than the J-CTO score. However, only the first attempt patients were enrolled in CL score, and the majority of them were performed via antegrade approach. Hence, it is applicable only in centres when retrograde/hybrid approach is not performed. Besides, low rate of contralateral injection, less radiation exposure, relatively low success rate is observed in CL scoring system. The PROGRESS CTO scoring system does not include prior CTO PCI failure, which according to Christopoulos et al., highly dependent on experience and expertise of operator who performs the procedure. The primary endpoint in J-CTO score is guidewire crossing time < 30 min, while PROGRESS CTO don’t care about the procedural duration, its primary outcome measure is procedural success, defined by < 30% residual stenosis with TIMI grade 3. Specific features including the advantages and disadvantages of different scoring systems are listed in Table 2. PROGRESS CTO score utilizes hybrid algorithm that values proximal cap ambiguity, and presence of interventional collaterals. The lower success rates for circumflex CTO target vessel is likely related to increased tortuosity of this vessel and the less frequent presence of interventional collaterals. ORA score includes age, ostial location and Rentrop collateral filling. Age ≥ 75 years is predicted as a factor for technical failure in ORA score. Both scores predicted technical failure using both antegrade and retrograde CTO
Table 2. Specific features of different scoring systems.
techniques. J-CTO score is developed by multi centre CTO registries in Japan, while ORA score is a single centre, single operator study, hence its validation in large cohorts of patients will be required to expand its use in CTO PCI.
Ellis score primarily focused on ambiguous proximal cap and emphasis on its presence being the main cause of CTO PCI failure, which we think is a powerful predictor in deciding the strategy. Similarly, the presence of interventional collateral vessels also helps in deciding alternative approaches. This model achieved higher technical success which was significantly higher than J-CTO (0.55) and PROGRESS-CTO (0.61). By including collateral score, tortuosity, calcification, poor distal target, ambiguous proximal cap, it is probably a comprehensive scoring system. The major limitation of our study is that there was no comparative patient based study that could better assess the predictability of scoring systems. It needs clinical studies to compare its specificity and sensitivity with other scoring systems.
4. Conclusion
Successful CTO revascularization by PCI significantly reduces clinical symptoms due to ischemia, improves left ventricular function, reduces CABG, and improves prognosis. Several patient related and operator related factors influence procedural outcome of CTO revascularization, which are emphasized by different scoring systems. In all scoring systems, patients with higher difficulty predictive score have lower probability to CTO revascularization. Hence, in those patients, CABG is better preferred to avoid unnecessary radiation and contrast burden, or refer to a high volume CTO PCI centre where different approaches and adjuvant modalities are utilized and highly experienced operators perform CTO PCI. The Ellis score has improved predictability compared with other scoring systems that followed hybrid approach. The predictability of this score for Japanese approach and APCTO algorithm needs to be studied. Additionally, it needs clinical studies to compare its specificity and sensitivity with other scoring systems.
Abbreviations
CABG = Coronary Artery Bypass Graft;
CAG = Coronary Angiography;
CCTA = Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography;
CCTO = Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion;
CL Score = Clinical and Lesion Related Score;
CTO = Chronic Total Occlusion;
CT-RECTOR Score = Computed Tomography Registry of Chronic Total Occlusion Revascularization;
J-CTO Score = Japanese Chronic Total Occlusion Score;
ORA Score = Ostial Location, Rentrop Collateral Grade, Age Score;
PCI = Percutaneous Coronary Intervention;
PROGRESS CTO Score = Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention Score;
TIMI Grade = Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Grade;
TLR = Target Lesion Revascularization.