Most patients with a symptomatic chronic total occlusion traditionally required bypass surgery to treat the blockage. Total blockages of the coronary artery have historically been the most challenging types of blockages to treat with an angioplasty procedure. 

However, the emergence of new technology and new techniques to treat total coronary blockage allow experienced cardiologists to considerably improve the success rate of this treatment approach, making it a viable treatment option for patients who are experiencing symptoms related to these blockages.