When coronary artery disease becomes more advanced, symptoms may continue despite medication or prior procedures. You may have been told your blockage is too complex for standard stenting or that surgery is the only option.
At WMCHealth, we offer advanced interventional techniques for patients with the most challenging coronary blockages. Our Complex PCI & Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) program focuses on restoring blood flow, relieving angina, and helping you return to daily activity.
As a regional referral center, we evaluate each case carefully to determine whether advanced minimally invasive treatment may help.
What Is a Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO)?
A chronic total occlusion is a heart artery that has been completely blocked for three months or longer. Blood flow through that artery has stopped.
Even if other arteries remain open, a CTO can limit how well your heart functions. Many people experience persistent symptoms despite medication.
CTO Symptoms
You may experience:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or pressure
- Reduced exercise tolerance
- Fatigue during daily activities
- Ongoing angina despite treatment
Meet Our Doctors
Syed Abbas Haidry
Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology
Locations:
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100 Woods Road 1st Floor, Desk B
Valhalla, NY 10595
WMCHealth Provider
Advanced Techniques for Challenging Blockages
We use leading-edge tools designed specifically for complex coronary disease, including:
- CTO PCI using antegrade and retrograde approaches open completely blocked arteries by working from the front or carefully navigating around the blockage
- Imaging-guided PCI with IVUS and OCT uses detailed images inside the artery to guide precise stent placement
- Rotational atherectomy gently sands away hardened calcium to allow the artery to expand
- Intravascular lithotripsy uses sound waves to break up severe calcium inside the artery
- Drug-coated balloon therapy delivers medication directly to the artery wall to help prevent re-narrowing
- Advanced bifurcation stenting strategies treat blockages where one artery branches into two
- Mechanical heart support temporarily assists the heart’s pumping function during high-risk procedures, when needed
These technologies allow us to treat cases that may not be manageable with conventional PCI.
How Complex PCI Can Help Restore Blood Flow
When a coronary artery has been difficult to treat, symptoms can persist and daily activity may feel limited. Complex PCI offers a minimally invasive option designed to reopen arteries that standard techniques cannot.
By restoring blood flow, treatment may help:
- Reduce angina
- Improve exercise capacity
- Increase energy for daily activities
- Enhance overall quality of life
When Other Options Feel Limited
Many patients come to us after being told no further procedures are possible. We believe every patient deserves a thorough evaluation.
Our interventional cardiology team reviews prior imaging, testing, and treatment history to determine whether advanced PCI may be appropriate. In some cases, minimally invasive intervention may provide symptom relief without open-heart surgery.
Experience That Expand Your Options
Opening a completely blocked artery requires experience and careful planning. At WMCHealth, our CTO PCI success rate is approximately 80 percent, compared to a national average near 50 percent.
For patients who have already had an unsuccessful attempt elsewhere, our success rate approaches 95 percent. This means that even if you were previously told a blockage could not be treated, another evaluation may offer additional options.
Achieving these results takes more than technical skill alone. We coordinate closely with cardiothoracic surgeons, heart failure specialists, and imaging experts so every recommendation reflects your overall heart health and long-term goals.