Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions in coronary arteries pose a significant challenge for coronary interventionists, often leading to referrals for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for CTOs requires accurate assessment of procedural potential. This study, comprising 100 Egyptian patients aged 37-81, compares the predictive efficacy of various CTO scoring systems in PCI success determination. Patients with CTO in at least one coronary artery, planned for elective PCI based on objective evidence of ischemia, were included. Experienced operators performed PCI, recording procedural variables, and assessing complications. Logistic regression analysis revealed an inverse linear relationship between success rates and score values across all systems. RESULTS: Although, the predictive capacity of the scores was similar, with slight differences. The Euro CTO (CASTLE) score(10) exhibited superior predictive efficacy, followed by the CL score(9), while PROGRESS(8) and J-CTO(7) scores showed lower significance. ORA CTO(11) score demonstrated intermediate predictive ability, and PROGRESS score(8) had the least predictive value. CONCLUSION: The CASTLE score(10) proved most effective in predicting PCI success for CTO cases in Egyptian patients, with operators advised to choose scoring systems based on experience and case characteristics. Proper planning remains crucial for optimizing success rates in CTO PCI procedures, irrespective of the scoring system employed.