title: A prospective study of elective stenting in unprotected left main coronary disease.
abstract: The standard treatment of left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease has been bypass surgery (CABG). Recent reports suggested that stenting of LMCA disease might be feasible. From January 1995 to April 1998, we carried out a prospective study of elective stenting of unprotected LMCA disease to evaluate its immediate and long-term results. Of 61 consecutive patients with unprotected LMCA disease, 6 were excluded. Acute procedural success was 100% for the remaining 55 patients, without any complications such as stent thrombosis, myocardial infarction, CABG, or death. During a mean follow-up of 16.1+/-9.6 months, 11 patients (20%) had symptomatic recurrence, between 2 to 6 months after their procedure. Seven patients underwent CABG, two had repeat intervention, one continued with medical therapy, and one died before planned angiography. There was no late sudden death. Forty-four patients (80%) remained asymptomatic. We conclude that elective stenting may be a safe alternative to CABG in unprotected LMCA disease.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Adventist Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome