Five-year outcomes after stenting of unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis in patients with normal left ventricular function.
BACKGROUND
We analyzed the long-term (5-year) outcome of patients treated with stenting for unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis.


METHODS
Between January 1995 and September 2001, 187 consecutive patients with unprotected LMCA stenosis and normal left ventricular function underwent elective stenting. Patients were examined or interviewed after 1, 3 and 6 months, and every 4 months thereafter for the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including death, myocardial infarction (MI) and target lesion revascularization (TLR).


RESULTS
The procedural success rate was 99.5%. During hospitalization, there were no deaths and only one stent thrombosis. Six-month angiography in 162 patients (follow-up rate, 86.6%) showed a restenosis rate of 33.3%. During 5-year follow-up, there were 13 deaths (6 cardiac, 7 noncardiac) and 2 nonfatal MI. TLRs were required in 36 (20.9%) patients and new lesion revascularizations were required in 13 (5.0%) patients. At 1, 3 and 5 years, the cumulative probabilities for freedom from MACE were 79.9+/-1.8%, 77.5+/-2.5% and 77.5+/-2.5%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The initial favorable outcomes of patients with normal left ventricular function after stenting of unprotected LMCA stenosis were sustained for up to 5 years.
Lee
Bong-Ki
BK
Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, Kangwon National University College of Medicine, Chunchon, Kangwon-do, Korea.
Hong
Myeong-Ki
MK
Lee
Cheol Whan
CW
Choi
Bong-Ryong
BR
Kim
Mi-Jeong
MJ
Park
Kyoung-Ha
KH
Kim
Young-Hak
YH
Han
Ki-Hoon
KH
Kim
Jae-Joong
JJ
Park
Seong-Wook
SW
Park
Seung-Jung
SJ
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left