…Definition and pathophysiology A chronic total occlusion (CTO) is a complete or nearly complete coronary arterial obstruction that has persisted for at least 30 days…

…on the system, compared with roughly 70–200 µm for gray scale IVUS. This allows detailed visualization of the lumen surface, fibrous cap thickness, thrombus…

…thrombogenic surface occurs via three primary mechanisms: Plaque Rupture: Accounting for 60 70% of ACS presentations, plaque rupture typically occurs in thin cap fibroatheromas (TCFAs)…

…the overlapping of vulnerable plaque and thrombogenic blood, which are critical determinants for infarction occurrence and extension. Plaque rupture or erosion leads to thrombus formation…

…fibrous cap that sequesters the highly thrombogenic lipid core from the flowing blood. While atherosclerosis progresses indolently and non linearly, often remaining asymptomatic for decades…

…mask and cap. Lidocaine 10 mg/mL for local anaesthesia in the awake patient — the anaesthetic also improves the chance of success by counteracting vascular…

…before puncture. Maximal barrier precautions: cap, mask, sterile gown, sterile gloves and a large full body drape. Lidocaine 10 mg/mL for local anaesthesia, normal…

…cap, mask, fenestrated drape. Chlorhexidine in alcohol 5 mg/mL. Local anaesthesia: lidocaine 10 mg/mL, 10–20 mL, a 25 G needle for the…

…susceptible to disruption and thrombosis. Typical features include a lipid rich core, a thin fibrous cap, macrophage and foam cell accumulation, expansive or positive remodelling…

…that are particularly prone to rupture characteristically contain: a large lipid rich core; abundant foam cells and macrophages; a thin fibrous cap; positive remodelling; neovascularization…