Successful revascularization of noninfarct related artery with chronic total occlusion among acute myocardial infarction patients A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Randomized trials and meta-analyses demonstrated that chronic total occlusion (CTO) in noninfarct related artery (n-IRA) was associated with increased all-cause mortality. Recently, several observational studies suggested that the successful revascularization of n-IRA with CTO decreased all-cause mortality. Methods: A systematic search was performed in Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry, PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases for relevant studies. Article assessing the prognostic role of revascularization of n-IRA with CTO was enrolled in this meta-analysis. Data and characteristics of each study were extracted. A meta-analysis was performed to generate pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for outcomes. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Beg funnel plot was used to evaluate publication bias. Results: Four observational studies and one randomized controlled trial involving 1083 patients were enrolled for analysis. Compared with nonreperfusion, the successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of n-IRA with CTO was related to decreased all-cause mortality (OR was 0.34, and 95% CI was 0.2-0.59; P=.0001). Conclusions: Successful PCI of n-IRA with CTO could significantly decrease all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, MACE, and stroke in acute myocardial infarction patients. In addition, it was not associated with the increased risk of repeat revascularization and myocardial infarction.