Chronic Total Occlusion

Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) is a type of coronary artery disease caused by a heavy build-up of plaque in the arteries that carry blood to your heart. CTO can result in a total or almost complete blockage of a coronary artery, creating a “wall” that prevents blood from flowing to your heart.

Torrance Memorial's interventional cardiologists have advanced the field of cardiovascular care by refining and improving a procedure to treat coronary artery chronic total occlusion (CTO) that uses a minimally invasive technique called chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention (CTO PCI).

Minimally Invasive, Expert CTO Treatment

The interventional cardiologists at Torrance memorial - led by cardiologist R. Michael Wyman, MD - are among only a few in the nation who are able to treat CTO using CTO PCI.

CTO PIC is a game-changing technique that treats CTO through a needle puncture in the skin called percutaneous revascularization. During CTO PCI, Dr. Wyman and his team use special devices to approach the blockage from the "forward" and "backward" directions, allowing them to clear the artery and place a stent to hold the artery open. CTO PCI allows patients to avoid coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) and provides an effective treatment option for CTO patients who do not qualify for CABG surgery.

As national leaders in CTO treatment, Dr. Wyman and his team are using advanced two-way communications technology to teach the CTO PCI technique to cardiovascular specialists around the world.