Aortocoronary bypass in the treatment of left main coronary artery stenosis

Because of the high risk of sudden death, coronary cineangiography should be done with caution in patients with possible left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis. After confirmation of LMCA stenosis, these patients should undergo careful monitoring; and aortocoronary artery bypass procedures, when technically feasible, have urgent priority. This report contains data on 104 patients with LMCA stenosis from St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville who were managed in this way. Eighty-six subsequently had coronary artery bypass grafting. There were 7 operative deaths and 2 late cardiac deaths in 38 months of follow-up observations. When compared with nonoperated patients with similar angiographic findings, the operated group showed considerably greater survival. Certain modifications of the usual operative techniques are described which tend to lessen the operative risk in patients with LMCA stenosis.     

Coronary bypass surgery for solitary stenosis of the left main coronary artery

Ten patients with solitary stenosis of the left main coronary artery underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. All patients suffered from unstable angina and were in NYHA class III or IV. Two of them required intravenous infusion of nitroglycerin preoperatively. The degree of stenosis of the left main coronary artery was 75% in 3 patients, 90% in 5, 95% in one and total obstruction in the other one. Five patients received saphenous vein grafts to the LAD and circumflex artery and the other 5 patients received IMA grafts to the LAD and saphenous vein grafts to the circumflex arteries. In 2 patients with 75% stenosis of the left main coronary artery we found narrow internal mammary artery grafts, the so called "string sign", on postoperative angiography. Although several causes of string sign were proposed previously, we supposed that the main cause of the "string sign" was the competition for flow between the IMA graft and the native coronary artery or grafted coronary artery. Postoperatively, all patients showed improvements in cardiac function and were in NYHA class I. No evidence of ischemic findings was found in postoperative exercise stress tests.     

Transaortic saphenous patch angioplasty for left main coronary artery stenosis. An alternative to coronary artery bypass

We present two cases of isolated proximal left main coronary artery stenosis treated by direct transaortic angioplasty. In selected patients this technique offers a valuable alternative to CAB graft with the advantage of restoring unobstructed antegrade flow.     

不停跳冠状动脉旁路移植术在左主干病变病人中的应用

目的 探讨不停跳冠状动脉旁路移植术（0PCAB）在左主干病变病人中应用的可行性和特点。方法 2002年5月至2006年5月，97例伴有左主干病变的冠心病病人施行了OPCAB，同期为86例伴有左主干病变的冠心病病人行体外循环下的冠状动脉旁路移植术（CABG）。对两组病人术前、术后的临床资料进行对比分析。结果 OPCAB和CABG组术前平均年龄（68．1±4．9）岁对（64．3±6．5）岁，P〈0．05；术前慢性阻塞性肺疾病史10．3％对2．3％，P〈0．05；术前肌酐高于正常者5．2％对0，P〈0．05；术前脑梗塞病史12.4％对3．5％，P〈0．05。术后OPCAB和CABG组病死率为1．03％对1．16％，P：0．93；房颤发生率14．4％对27．9％，P=0．02。结论 对伴有左主干病变的冠心病病人行OPCAB临床效果良好。     

225例左主干狭窄冠状动脉旁路移植术

目的 总结冠状动脉左主干狭窄(LMS)的外科治疗效果和临床经验。方法1999年1月至2003年6月，225例LMS病人接受了冠状动脉旁路移植术(CABG)。平均年龄63．4岁。左室射血分数(LVEF)≤0．3011例。6例急诊手术，其中3例术前放置主动脉球囊反搏(IABP)。76例在常规体外循环下手术；149例应用非体外循环不停跳技术，术中改为体外循环5例。其中13例全动脉化、3例全静脉化旁路移植术。结果平均术前住院2．3d。平均每例远端吻合口2．95个。死亡13例(5．78％)。结论尽管LMS是预示CABG术后死亡率的独立危险因素，但CABG现在仍是其治疗的第一选择，且是安全、有效的方法。     

Grade of left main coronary artery stenosis does not influence long-term mortality after coronary artery bypass surgery

Objective. To assess if grade of left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis influences early or long-term mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Design. Among all 1 384 patients with LMCA stenosis at Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden during 1990–1999, 131 deaths occurred within 5 years of surgery (cases). Matched controls (n=146) were randomly selected from all surviving LMCA patients taking gender, age and year of surgery into account. Angiographies were classified for grade of LMCA stenosis before the operation. Results. High-grade LMCA stenosis was equally common among cases and controls (50 vs. 45%). The odds ratio (OR) of mortality 5 years after the operation in patients with high-grade versus low-grade LMCA stenosis based on the matched pairs was 1.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7–2.0) and after multivariable adjustment using information on all subjects the OR was 1.0 (95% CI 0.6–1.7). For early and one year mortality similar odds ratios were observed but with wide confidence intervals. Conclusions. Grade of LMCA stenosis does not appear to influence early or long-term mortality after CABG performed during 1990–1999.     

High mortality after coronary bypass surgery in patients with high-grade left main coronary artery stenosis

Objective. To determine mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in relation to degree of left main coronary artery (LMCA) obstruction. Design. All patients without LMCA stenosis (n=3370), with low-grade stenosis (n?=?261), high-grade stenosis (n?=?224) or total occlusion of the LMCA (n?=?15) were followed for ten years after CABG performed during 1970–1989. Results. Early mortality was 1.9% and 2.3%, respectively, if there was no or a low-grade LMCA stenosis vs. 6.3% if the stenosis was high-grade. Ten-year survival was 76% if no LMCA obstruction, 74% if low-grade stenosis and 64% if the stenosis was high-grade. Risk of early death (odds ratio 2.6, 95% CI 1.4–4.8) and mortality at ten years (relative risk 1.5, 95% CI 1.1–2.0) was higher in patients with high-grade stenosis than in those without LMCA stenosis. There was no increased long-term mortality in patients with low-grade stenosis or among the few patients with occlusion of the LMCA. Conclusions. High-grade LMCA stenosis was associated with a three-fold increased risk of early and fifty percent higher risk of late death than in patients without LMCA stenosis.     

High mortality after coronary bypass surgery in patients with high-grade left main coronary artery stenosis

OBJECTIVE: To determine mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in relation to degree of left main coronary artery (LMCA) obstruction. DESIGN: All patients without LMCA stenosis (n=3370), with low-grade stenosis (n = 261), high-grade stenosis (n = 224) or total occlusion of the LMCA (n = 15) were followed for ten years after CABG performed during 1970-1989. RESULTS: Early mortality was 1.9% and 2.3%, respectively, if there was no or a low-grade LMCA stenosis vs. 6.3% if the stenosis was high-grade. Ten-year survival was 76% if no LMCA obstruction, 74% if low-grade stenosis and 64% if the stenosis was high-grade. Risk of early death (odds ratio 2.6, 95% CI 1.4-4.8) and mortality at ten years (relative risk 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.0) was higher in patients with high-grade stenosis than in those without LMCA stenosis. There was no increased long-term mortality in patients with low-grade stenosis or among the few patients with occlusion of the LMCA. CONCLUSIONS: High-grade LMCA stenosis was associated with a three-fold increased risk of early and fifty percent higher risk of late death than in patients without LMCA stenosis.     

Off-pump coronary bypass surgery for left main coronary artery stenosis 10 years after heart transplantation: case report.

A patient with asymptomatic left main coronary artery stenosis 10 years after heart transplantation was treated successfully with off-pump coronary bypass surgery using both mammary arteries. New advances in bypass surgery may decrease the risk of revascularization in cardiac transplant recipients.     

Surgical treatment of left main coronary artery stenosis

Nineteen consecutive patients with severe stenosis of the left main coronary artery underwent coronary bypass surgery between Jan. 1980 and Sept. 1989. They had typical symptoms of angina pectoris, and 10 of them showed unstable angina pattern. Disabling symptoms of angina pectoris persisted in all patients despite medication. Eight patients had myocardial infarction. Two patients (10.5%) died postoperatively. Sixteen patients (94.1%) surviving surgery were alive from 6 to 106 months after operation. 13 patients were asymptomatic, 2 had a significant reduction in angina symptoms. The findings suggest that myocardial revascularization may effectively improve the life quality and prolong life span of a patient with significantly occlusive disease of the left main coronary artery.     

Aortic valve replacement and coronary bypass in patients with severe stenosis of the left main coronary artery

Adequate myocardial protection is difficult to achieve during operations for combined aortic valve disease and severe stenosis of the left main coronary artery. A double cross-clamp technique, which facilitates the delivery of cardioplegic solution to the myocardium, is described here. We reviewed the experiences of 11 patients, 6 of whom underwent operation using the new technique.     

Saphenous vein bypass graft to left main coronary artery.

The first reported aorto-left main coronary artery saphenous vein bypass for an aberrant left main coronary artery arising from the anterior sinus of Valsalva is presented. Late follow-up revealed a normal stress test, and cardiac catheterization revealed the left system to be entirely supplied by the graft.