We talk with Prof. Witold Rużyłło, MD, PhD, a pioneer of advanced cardiological techiques in Poland, about ongoing progress in interventional cardiology, creating a system for early identification of those at risk of heart disease, and the role of prevention.

Mimo znacznego spadku umieralności choroby układu krążenia nadal są głównym zabójcą Polaków. Istnieją nowe zabiegi, takie jak przezcewnikowe wszczepienie zastawki aortalnej (TAVI), nie są one jednak w wystarczającym stopniu refundowane w porównaniu z krajową skalą problemu oraz średnią europejską. Z tego m.in. powodu Europejskie Towarzystwo Kardiologiczne zainicjowało kampanię Valve for Ufe (,,2astawka to Życie").

Despite a significant drop in mortality rates, cardiovascular diseases remain the number-one cause of death in Poland. Funding for novel procedures, such as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), is nevertheless insufficient, compared to the scale of the problem in Poland and average implantation rates in Europe. That is one of the factors motivating the European Society of Cardiology's and European Association for Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions "Valve for Life" Initiative.

Patients with coronary chronic total occlusions have usually anginal symptoms, reversible ischemia on stress testing and viable myocardium subtended by the occluded artery. Notwithstanding the optimal clinical characteristics for revascularization by means of percutaneous coronary intervention, the majority of subjects with chronic total occlusions are treated medically or referred for coronary artery bypass grafting. This review highlights the evolution and latest advancements in percutaneous techniques and technologies for revascularization of CTO.