Recovery of Left Ventricular Function in Chronic Total Occluded Coronary Arteries

Inclusion Criteria: * chronic total occlusion with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 0 flow (or distal capillary reflow) of a native coronary artery with an estimated reference vessel diameter of 2.5 to 4.0 mm * chronic total occlusion has more than 4 weeks duration * the target vessel has not previously been treated with percutaneous coronary intervention * the target vessel must be feasible for stent implantation * patient has stable or unstable angina pectoris or a positive functional study for ischemia * patient must be 18 years of age or older * female subjects of childbearing age must have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days before procedure * patient has been informed of the nature of the study and agrees to its * provisions ans has written informed consent as approved by the Ethics Committee * patient complies with all required post-procedure follow-up Exclusion Criteria: * a documented left ventricular function \< 30% * patient has a acute myocardial infarction (\>3x normal creatine kinase (CK with presence of CK-MB) within 72 hours preceding the index procedure and CK has not returned to normal limits at the time of the procedure * patients with known hypersensitivity or contraindication to aspirin, heparin, clopidogrel, stainless steel or contrast media that cannot be adequately been pre-medicated * patient has a platelet count of \< 100000 cells/mm3 or \> 700000 cells/m3, a white blood cell count of \< 3000 cells/mm3 or documented or suspected liver disease * patient has a history of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy * patient has suffered a cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months * active peptic ulcer or upper gastrointestinal bleeding within the prior 6 months * patients has a co-morbidity (i.e. cancer or congestive heart failure) that may cause the patient to be non-compliant with the protocol, or is associated with limited life-expectancy (less than 2 years) * the target vessel contains intraluminal thrombus * the target vessel or lesson shows angiographic evidence of severe calcification * patient has contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging