Stenting of the Left Main Coronary Artery. Local Experience in Liege

We examined the immediate and long-term outcome after stenting of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) in 41 consecutive patients who had been considered unsuitable for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). The procedure was elective in thirty-two patients (78%) with a protected LMCA in 24 patients and non-protected LMCA in 8 patients; the procedure was acute in the setting of myocardial infarction or complication of a diagnostic angiography in 9 patients (22%). The mean follow-up duration was 19 +/- 13 months. There were 5 in-hospital and 3 late deaths; repeat angioplasty was performed in 5 cases, but only one for LMCA restenosis. Results varied considerably depending on the clinical presentation. For acute patients, technical success was achieved in 89%, survival at hospital discharge was 44% and there was no cardiac event at the late follow-up. For elective patients, technical success was achieved in 100%, survival at hospital discharge was 96% and 90% at follow-up. The results of our study suggest that when patients have surgical risks, elective LMCA stenting either protected or unprotected may be undertaken with a high procedural success rate and a favourable clinical late follow-up.