Simultaneous catheterization of the coronary arteries in the treatment of chronic total occlusions.

Chronic total occlusions present technical challenges to the interventional cardiologist, and are accompanied by an increased propensity for complications. We present an argument for the routine use of simultaneous bilateral coronary angiography to help define the lesion and optimize the therapeutic approach. Eight selected cases of CTO were revascularized using this technique resulting in immediate procedural success, devoid of complications, in all cases.