Chronic Total Occlusion Treatment at Tampa General Hospital
Treatment for chronic total occlusion (CTO) is historically surgical in nature (though medications may be initially suggested), as the condition involves the complete or almost complete blockage of an artery. Traditionally, surgical treatment for CTO has been limited to procedures such as open heart surgery or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, during which a piece of artery or vein from another area of the body is used to bypass the blockage and allow blood to flow around it. While Tampa General Hospital’s cardiovascular specialists recommend and perform hundreds of CABG procedures each year, they can also offer certain patients a far less invasive treatment option called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
TGH is one of the only hospitals in the region to offer (PCI) for chronic total occlusion. This inpatient, minimally invasive procedure uses catheter-based intervention to clear blocked arteries and has a complication rate comparable to a standard angioplasty. Patients who undergo this procedure can have improved left ventricular function and significant reduction in anginal symptoms.
At TGH, chronic total occlusion treatment with PCI or other procedures occurs in our 77,000-square-foot cardiovascular center, comprising eight cardiac operating rooms, a hybrid heart valve operating room, six cardiac catheterization labs, seven interventional radiology suites, and 47 pre- and post-procedure patient rooms. Our team of board-certified cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, diagnostic radiologists, and specialized cardiac care nurses work together to diagnose, manage, and treat all types of heart disease, providing personalized treatment plans to each and every patient.
Additionally, we continuously strive for the best outcomes possible. We supply quality data to national registries to keep our outcomes transparent, so we know where we rank among other top cardiovascular centers in the nation, motivating us to constantly improve on our practices.
TGH has received national recognition for our outstanding cardiac care by being named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Cardiology & Heart Surgery by U.S. News & World Report every year since 2008 because of our patient outcome rates, highly specialized medical staff and advanced treatment options. And for 2020-2021, U.S. News & World Report also recognized TGH as the highest-ranked hospital in Florida for Cardiology & Heart Surgery.