title: Drug-eluting stent supported percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to determine the clinical and angiographic outcomes of unselected patients receiving drug-eluting stents for unprotected left main disease.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The results of several series of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for left main disease in the pre-drug-eluting stent era have arisen concerns on the safety and mid-term efficacy of PCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with unprotected left main disease were considered eligible for drug-eluting stent supported PCI. The surgical risk score (risk of death within 1 month) of each patient was calculated according to the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred and one patients with unprotected left main disease underwent PCI. The mean EuroSCORE was 19 +/- 23. Successfully left main stenting was performed in 98 patients (primary success rate 97%). The overall 1-month mortality rate was 9.9%. The 1-month mortality rate was 50% in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on presentation, and 4.5% in patients without AMI on presentation. The 1-month mortality rate of patients with a risk score <13 was 3%, while it was 21% in patients with a risk score >or=13. At 6 months, the mortality rate of the entire cohort of patients increased to 12.8%, and the one of the non-AMI patients to 7.8%. Survival rate was 86% +/- 4% (mean follow-up 295 +/- 175 days). Target vessel revascularization was performed in 14 patients (16%). The 6-month in-segment restenosis rate was 16%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Drug-eluting stent supported PCI may provide early and mid-term outcomes comparable or superior to those expected from coronary artery surgery. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Migliorini
authors.forename: Guia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moschi
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giurlani
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vergara
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.forename: Nazario
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carrabba
authors.forename: Emilio V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Dovellini
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antoniucci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016019:Survival Analysis