Unprotected Left Main Coronary Percutaneous Intervention: short and medium term outcomes

Introduction: This study aimed to determine short and medium term outcomes in patients with unprotected left main coronary disease treated by percutaneous intervention. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease treated by percutaneous intervention between January 2004 and June 2009. Clinical and angiographic data were collected from their medical records and supplemented by a telephone interview with the patients or their doctors. Results: Forty eight patients with an average age of 68.50 +/- 14.06 years were included in the study. Acute coronary syndromes were the primary reason for admission (75%). Patients had distal left main lesions (77.1%) and pluritroncular lesions (64.6%). Bare-metal stents were implanted in 73% of patients. After a mean follow-up of 22 months, the rate of major cardiovascular events was 35.4% (20.8% of restenosis and 14.6% of revascularizations). Hospital mortality rate was 4.2%. Predictive factors of major cardiovascular events included an EuroSCORE >= 10 and a history of cardiovascular disease. Conclusion: Angioplasty of the left main trunk is an alternative approach to emergency situations or when surgery is not indicated. Patients' outcome is dependent on their overall risks factors before angioplasty.