Application of the "hybrid approach" to chronic total occlusion interventions: a detailed procedural analysis. 
To assess the outcomes of the "hybrid" approach to chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs).  The "hybrid approach" to CTO PCI advocates appropriate and early change of crossing strategy to maximize success, safety, and efficiency.  We prospectively recorded and analyzed detailed step-by-step procedural data in 73 consecutive CTO PCI cases performed by a single operator between July 2011 and August 2012.  Technical success was achieved in 66 of 73 cases (90.4%).  Mean patient age was 65 ± 7 years, and 30% had prior coronary artery bypass surgery.  Dual injection was used in 78%.  The primary approach was retrograde in 9 cases (12.5%) and antegrade in 64 cases (87.5%), of whom 25 cases (39.1%) underwent retrograde attempt after failed antegrade approach.  The initial crossing approach was successful in 40 cases (54.8%), but 32 cases (44%) required 3.6 ± 1.4 approach changes (range 2-7).  Antegrade wire escalation, antegrade dissection/reentry, and retrograde crossing were utilized in 97.2%, 46.6%, and 46.6% of cases, respectively.  Among successful cases, the final CTO crossing technique was antegrade wire escalation in 50.0%, antegrade dissection/reentry in 24.2%, and retrograde in 25.8%.  The mean procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and air kerma radiation exposure until CTO crossing or stopping the procedure were 66 ± 55 minutes, 25 ± 23 minutes, and 2.3 ± 1.9 Gray, respectively.  Three patients (4.1%) had a major complication.  In the "hybrid approach" to CTO PCI, changes in crossing strategy were needed in approximately half the cases, resulting in high success and low complication rates.