Aim: This systematic review evaluated the impact of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) in a non-infarct-related artery (non-IRA) on clinical outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients and assessed the benefits of staged revascularization.Methods: We performed a comprehensive systematic review to provide further insight into the impact of a CTO in a non-IRA on clinical outcomes after ACS. Moreover, we review the currently available evidence on the clinical significance of staged revascularization for a CTO in a non-IRA patients with ACS and propose whether prophylactic CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could improve outcomes in patients who subsequently develop an ACS.Results: Our search identified 999 studies, from which 30 were selected and ten were included in the analysis. The results showed a trend of higher all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac event rates in the culprit-only-PCI group compared with the multivessel (MV)-PC I group in ST elevation myocardial infarction patients, with varying statistical significance across different outcomes.Conclusion: This review highlights the significant impact of non-IRA CTOs in ACS. Successful CTO revascularization may provide benefits, particularly in ST elevation myocardial infarction, but the optimal management approach remains uncertain. The presence of a non-IRA CTO, especially in cardiogenic shock, predicts worse outcomes. Further research is warranted to determine the effective strategies to improve survival.
Keywords: acute coronary syndromes; chronic total occlusion; major adverse cardiac event; non-infarct-related artery; percutaneous coronary intervention.
Heart attacks occur when blood flow to the heart is blocked. Some people have a long-standing complete blockage in a heart artery, called a chronic total occlusion (CTO). This review examined studies on heart attack patients, who also had a CTO in a different artery.The review found that having a CTO makes heart attacks more dangerous, increasing the risk of serious complications or death. Treating the CTO might benefit some patients, potentially reducing future heart problems. However, the optimal timing for CTO treatment remains unclear, some doctors prefer immediate treatment, while others advocate waiting.For very sick heart attack patients in cardiogenic shock, a CTO further increases risks. These patients may require specialized treatments to support heart function.Although fixing CTOs might help, more research is needed to determine their effectiveness for all patients. Currently, treatment decisions are made based on each patient’s situation.In conclusion, CTOs pose a significant challenge in heart attack treatment. Further studies are necessary to establish the safest and most effective approach for managing heart attack patients with CTOs.