title: Chronic/subacute total occlusion of the left main coronary artery--a case report and review of literature.
abstract: Total occlusion of the left main coronary artery is rare. Acute occlusion is invariably fatal; however, survival is possible if the patient reaches the hospital in time. Patients usually present with acute myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, and sudden cardiac death. Chronic total occlusion presents with angina, myocardial infarction, or congestive heart failure. The authors describe complete occlusion of the left main coronary artery in a patient who presented with recent-onset angina. They review the clinical and angiographic features of 60 cases described in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, State University of New York, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, the Buffalo General Hospital, USA. kanjwal@acsu.buffalo.edu
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kanjwal
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged