The ORBITA-CTO trial was a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded study that enrolled 50 patients with symptomatic single-vessel chronic total occlusion (CTO) and no bystander coronary disease. Participants were assigned to either CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or a placebo procedure. The results demonstrated that PCI with angioplasty and stenting led to greater improvement in angina symptoms compared with placebo. These findings provide strong evidence that CTO PCI can effectively reduce anginal pain and improve quality of life for patients with chronic total occlusions.

In this interview, Allen J. Taylor, MD, FACC and John Davies, MBBS, PhD evaluate the ORBITA-CTO Trial.

Related References:

1. Khan S, Sajjad U, Fawaz S, et al. Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Stable Angina: The ORBITA-CTO Trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. Published online March 29, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2026.03.027