Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO)

Heart disease causes 1 in 4 deaths in the United States and is the leading cause of death in both men and women. Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease and causes more than 385,000 deaths annually.

Coronary artery disease is when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become hardened and narrowed. A Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) is a common, complex blockage of the artery that is:

• More than 99% blocked for three months or more; and
• Responsible for a significant decrease in blood flow

CTOs, or a totally blocked artery, affect up to 31% of patients who are referred for a coronary angiography, or a test to evaluate the blood vessels. CTOs have traditionally been treated with bypass surgery or medication. 

New Treatment Options

Ellis is proud to be the first and only hospital in the Capital Region to offer a minimally invasive procedure to give hope to patients with completely blocked arteries.  The technology used for the minimally invasive procedure is Boston Scientific’s CrossBoss and Stringray Crossing and Re-entry device.  The technology is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is the only such minimally invasive procedure available for CTOs.

The procedure allows patients to return to an active life, improve survival rates for heart disease and improve the quality of life for many patients who either haven’t been candidates for bypass surgery or weren’t treated effectively with medications.

For more information on the CTO procedures at Ellis, call 518.831.8840.