title: Unprotected left main distal bifurcation lesion.
abstract: Left main coronary artery disease is a high-risk condition with significant mortality. Currently, bypass surgery is considered the gold-standard treatment for unprotected left main disease. The introduction of drugeluting stents for the treatment of coronary artery disease has proved to reduce the rates of restenosis and, consequently, the need for repeat revascularisation; therefore, recently, percutaneous coronary intervention in the unprotected left main using drug-eluting stents has been considered another therapeutic option for patients at high risk for bypass surgery, or for patients who simply refuse bypass surgery. Based on the updated guidelines on myocardial revascularisation of the European Society of Cardiology, treating left main lesions by angioplasty is feasible and safe in selected patients. In this case report we demonstrate the successful implantation of drug-eluting stents for the treatment of an unprotected left main bifurcation lesion in an 85-year-old patient with high perioperative risk.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Interventional Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karavolias
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karyofillis
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Georgiadou
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Voudris
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention