Stenting of "unprotected" left main coronary artery stenoses: early and late results.

OBJECTIVE: To assess short and long term efficacy of coronary stent implantation for unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis. DESIGN: Retrospective follow up study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre for interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery. PATIENTS: Eighteen consecutive patients (12 men; age 70.8 years) between May 1993 and July 1996. Ten patients presented with stable angina and underwent the procedure electively, eight patients presented either with unstable angina or myocardial infarction and underwent the procedure in emergency. INTERVENTION: Johnson and Johnson Palmaz-Schatz stents were used in 16 patients, and a Microstent and a Gianturco-Roubin in one patient each. An intra-aortic balloon pump was prophylactively used for two patients in the elective group. In the acute group, six required an intra-aortic balloon pump. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Procedural success rate and major adverse cardiac events. RESULTS: Successful stent implantation was achieved in all patients. In the elective group, no major adverse cardiac event occurred during the procedure, but one patient had to undergo repeated angioplasty before discharge. All patients of the elective group were discharged alive and there has been one non-cardiac death during a follow up of (mean (SD)) 10 (4) months. In the emergency group, one patient died during the procedure, one patient developed a non Q-wave myocardial infarction, one patient underwent emergency coronary bypass surgery, while another patient died suddenly before hospital discharge. Six patients of the emergency group were discharged alive and there has been one non-cardiac death during a follow up of 7 (4) months. CONCLUSIONS: Elective stent implantation for unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis is safe and effective in selected stable patients. Urgent stent implantation, however, cannot be considered as a definitive procedure in emergency situation.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients with unstable angina pectoris refractory to medical therapy: long-term clinical and angiographic results.

The purpose of this study was to assess the results of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 469 consecutive patients with unstable angina pectoris refractory to medical therapy. The primary success rate was 88%, but, since the introduction of the steerable wire system, the success rate has increased to 90%. Mortality was 1%. There were no statistically significant differences in success rates per vessel. Actuarial total 5 year survival was 94%. After 5 years, actuarially, 79% of the patients were free of events (recurrence of angina, residual myocardial infarction, re-PTCA, coronary artery bypass surgery or death). Aortocoronary bypass surgery was performed in 9% of the 469 patients. The angiographic recurrence rate was 28%, but, of the patients who were symptom-free and who had a follow-up angiogram, only 3% had an angiographic recurrence, whereas 98% of the patients who did not have a repeat angiogram were symptom-free. It is concluded that, in a selected group of patients with the clinical syndrome of unstable angina pectoris refractory to medical therapy, the long-term clinical results are good and survival is excellent.