title: Stenting of "unprotected" left main coronary artery stenoses: early and late results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess short and long term efficacy of coronary stent implantation for unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective follow up study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral centre for interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen consecutive patients (12 men; age 70.8 years) between May 1993 and July 1996. Ten patients presented with stable angina and underwent the procedure electively, eight patients presented either with unstable angina or myocardial infarction and underwent the procedure in emergency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Johnson and Johnson Palmaz-Schatz stents were used in 16 patients, and a Microstent and a Gianturco-Roubin in one patient each. An intra-aortic balloon pump was prophylactively used for two patients in the elective group. In the acute group, six required an intra-aortic balloon pump.
  
  
  METHODS
  Procedural success rate and major adverse cardiac events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful stent implantation was achieved in all patients. In the elective group, no major adverse cardiac event occurred during the procedure, but one patient had to undergo repeated angioplasty before discharge. All patients of the elective group were discharged alive and there has been one non-cardiac death during a follow up of (mean (SD)) 10 (4) months. In the emergency group, one patient died during the procedure, one patient developed a non Q-wave myocardial infarction, one patient underwent emergency coronary bypass surgery, while another patient died suddenly before hospital discharge. Six patients of the emergency group were discharged alive and there has been one non-cardiac death during a follow up of 7 (4) months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elective stent implantation for unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis is safe and effective in selected stable patients. Urgent stent implantation, however, cannot be considered as a definitive procedure in emergency situation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, St Antonius Hospital Koekoekslaan, Netherlands.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Laruelle
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Brueren
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Bal
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Mast
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Suttorp
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brutel de la Rivière
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Plokker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000628:therapy; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome