Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
CTO
Also written as: CTO — chronic total occlusion
Chronic total occlusion; complete blockage of a coronary artery present for more than three months.
Full Definition
Chronic total occlusion (CTO) refers to a complete blockage of a coronary artery that has been present for at least three months, typically evidenced by lack of antegrade flow and well-developed collateral circulation. CTO interventions represent some of the most technically challenging procedures in interventional cardiology, requiring specialized equipment, techniques, and expertise. Success rates have improved significantly with dedicated CTO programs and advanced crossing techniques.
Usage
Usage note: Always spell out on first use in patient-facing documents.
In Context
- "The patient was referred for CTO intervention after failed medical management of angina." — Referral letter
- "Successful CTO recanalization was achieved using retrograde approach via collateral channels." — Procedure note
Also known as
chronic total occlusion
Contrasted with
patent vessel
Don't confuse with
acute occlusion
subtotal occlusion