title: Transaortic patch angioplasty for left main coronary artery occlusion.
abstract: Isolated total occlusion of the left main coronary artery is rare, and may be conventionally treated by standard bypass surgery. We describe a 54-year-old woman with isolated left main coronary artery disease presenting as unstable angina of 1 week's duration. She was treated with transaortic autologous pericardial patch angioplasty. Postoperative coronary angiography showed a widely patent left main coronary artery. She was angina-free 5 months postoperatively. In selected patients, this technique offers a valuable alternative to coronary artery bypass with the advantage of restoring more physiologic perfusion to the coronary tree.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Medical College, Kaoshiung Hsien, Taiwan ROC.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D017130:Angioplasty / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000637:transplantation; D011859:Radiography