Acute occlusion of the left main coronary artery following intracoronary ultrasound examination

Intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS) is generally considered as safe procedure, with a low complication rate. We describe a nearly fatal complication of a diagnostic ICUS study that was treated succesfully with stent implantation in the left main coronary artery and discuss the indications and remaining risks of this procedure. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 47:181–184, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Acute coronary artery closure following intracoronary ultrasound examination

Two patients undergoing intracoronary ultrasound examination were complicated by acute coronary artery closure. One of the complications was thought to be caused by intimal dissection and thrombus formation and the other was thought to be caused by intimal dissection and subsequent embolization. The complications were successfully managed conservatively in both cases. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Intravascular ultrasound to assess left main stem coronary artery lesion

A man of 70 underwent coronary arteriography for the assessment of angina. The appearance of the left coronary main stem was slightly abnormal but no definite stenosis could be delineated. Intracoronary ultrasound examination with a 4·8 French intravascular ultrasound probe showed an extensive plaque in the distal left main stem and proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, with a shelf-like projection causing 60% narrowing at one point in the distal left main stem. Since coronary bypass surgery the patient has been free of angina.     

Iatrogenic left main coronary artery stenosis

Iatrogenic left main coronary artery stenosis is a potentially life-threatening complication of cardiac valve replacement surgery due to injury by perfusion cannulas. This requires prompt clinical recognition and diagnosis by repeat coronary angiography, and treatment by early coronary artery bypass grafting. We present 3 patients who had normal coronary arteries prior to valve replacement surgery, and who developed severe left main coronary artery stenosis after surgery. Accelerating angina and refractory ventricular arrhythmia were presenting clinical manifestations. Coronary artery bypass grafting was successfully performed in all 3 patients.     

Intravascular ultrasound to assess left main stem coronary artery lesion.

A man of 70 underwent coronary arteriography for the assessment of angina. The appearance of the left coronary main stem was slightly abnormal but no definite stenosis could be delineated. Intracoronary ultrasound examination with a 4.8 French intravascular ultrasound probe showed an extensive plaque in the distal left main stem and proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, with a shelf-like projection causing 60% narrowing at one point in the distal left main stem. Since coronary bypass surgery the patient has been free of angina.     

Revascularization for unprotected left main stem coronary artery stenosis stenting or surgery

For coronary artery disease with unprotected left main stem (LMS) stenosis, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is traditionally regarded as the "standard of care" because of its well-documented and durable survival advantage. There is now an increasing trend to use drug-eluting stents for LMS stenosis rather than CABG despite very little high-quality data to inform clinical practice. We herein: 1) evaluate the current evidence in support of the use of percutaneous revascularization for unprotected LMS; 2) assess the underlying justification for randomized controlled trials of stenting versus surgery for unprotected LMS; and 3) examine the optimum approach to informed consent. We conclude that CABG should indeed remain the preferred revascularization treatment in good surgical candidates with unprotected LMS stenosis.     

Off-pump coronary revascularization for left main coronary artery stenosis

Experience of on- and off-pump coronary artery bypass in 379 patients with significant left main coronary artery stenosis was retrospectively reviewed. Beating-heart operations were performed on 219 patients between January 2001 and October 2007. Their results were compared with 160 who underwent revascularization under cardiopulmonary bypass during the same period. All patients had multivessel grafting via a median sternotomy. Both groups were comparable demographically. Off-pump patients received significantly fewer grafts per patient (3.21 +/- 0.86 vs 3.74 +/- 0.82). The use of moderate or high doses of inotropics (> 5 microg kg(-1) min(-1)) was more frequent in the on-pump group (44% vs 26%). Postoperative blood transfusion requirement was lower in off-pump patients, and fewer of them experienced worsening of preexisting renal insufficiency. There were 2 operative deaths in the on-pump group and 1 in the off-pump group. The off-pump procedure is safe and effective in patients with left main coronary artery disease.     

Radiation-induced stenosis of the left main coronary artery

Isolated left main coronary artery stenosis induced by mediastinal radiation is a well-documented but rare entity. Its clinical manifestations can be latent for many years, but its ominous sequela cannot be ignored. We report here such a patient presenting 16 yr postmediastinal radiation, the longest documented latency to date.     

Radiation-induced stenosis of the left main coronary artery

A case of isolated left main coronary artery stenosis ten years following irradiation of the mediastinum for Hodgkin's disease is presented. Aortic biopsies were consistent with changes suggestive of radiation arteritis.     

Stenting of unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis

Unprotected left main stenosis greater than 50% has traditionally been managed with coronary artery bypass surgery. There is now emerging evidence to support a percutaneous strategy adopting drug-eluting stents, especially in patients at high risk for surgery. This paper will review recent outcomes of both bare-metal and drug-eluting stent use for unprotected left main stenosis and summarise results of an Australian registry. Results of studies comparing the percutaneous approach to surgery will also be reviewed together with ESC and AHA/ACC current guidelines. Although percutaneous intervention of unprotected left main has been shown to be a safe and feasible procedure, unanswered questions remain. Large multi-centre randomised trials underway comparing percutaneous to surgical intervention will help clarify these ongoing issues.     

Progression of left main coronary artery stenosis following left anterior descending coronary artery angioplasty

Although recent clinical experience indicates a high success rate, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is still associated with serious complications which usually occur during or shortly after the procedure and are principally related to the lesion or segment of vessel being dilated. We report 2 cases of subacute progression within months of left main stenosis following successful, uncomplicated left anterior descending (LAD) coronary PTCA. Identification of left main trunk involvement may mandate earlier follow-up or intervention.     

Physiological and intravascular ultrasound assessment of an ambiguous left main coronary artery stenosis.

The angiographic assessment of an ambiguous left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis is often difficult and not reliable. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) have improved the diagnostic utility of an ambiguous LMCA stenosis. The combined role of FFR and IVUS in patients with an ambiguous LMCA stenosis is discussed.     

Hemodynamic and intravascular ultrasound assessment of an ambiguous left main coronary artery stenosis.

The assessment of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis by angiography is not reliable, and noninvasive tests are incapable of discriminating ischemia caused by LMCA versus other stenoses. Among patients with LMCA stenosis, both fractional flow reserve and intravascular ultrasound parameters would determine the severity of stenosis and predict the event rates. This review outlines the evidence in support of their routine use for the assessment of an ambiguous LMCA stenosis.     

Percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis

Hemodynamically significant left main coronary artery stenosis (LMCA) is found in around 4% of diagnostic coronary angiograms and is known as unprotected LMCA stenosis if the left coronary artery and left circumflex artery has no previous patent grafts. Previous randomized studies have demonstrated a significant reduction in mortality when revascularization by coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery was undertaken compared with medical treatment. Therefore, current practice guidelines do not recommend percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for such a lesion because of the proven benefit of surgery and high rates of restenosis with the use of bare metal stents. However, with the advent of drug-eluting stents (DES), the long term outcomes of PCI with DES to treat unprotected LMCA stenoses have been acceptable. Therefore, apart from the current guidelines, PCI for treatment of unprotected LMCA stenosis is often undertaken in individuals who are at a very high risk of CABG or refuse to undergo a sternotomy. Future randomized studies comparing CABG vs PCI using DES for treatment of unprotected LMCA stenosis would be a great advance in clinical knowledge for the adoption of appropriate treatment.     

Lack of increased left main coronary artery dimensions in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and coronary artery disease. An intracoronary ultrasound study

OBJECTIVES: Left main coronary artery dimensions were evaluated in patients with and without arterial hypertension, in the presence of coronary artery disease, and correlated to left ventricular mass. METHODS AND RESULTS: Intracoronary ultrasound was performed in 25 patients (pts) with coronary artery disease and hypertension (+HTN) and in 25 pts with coronary artery disease only (-HTN). Maximal left main dimensions and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were measured. +HTN pts had greater LVMI compared to -HTN, (+HTN = 183 +/- 17 g/m2 vs. -HTN = 82 +/- 22 g/m2, p < 0.0001), while maximal left main vessel area was similar (25.99 +/- 5.01 mm2 vs. 25.62 +/- 3.3 mm2, p = 0.8). No correlation was found between LVMI and left main vessel area in + HTN. CONCLUSIONS: Pts with +HTN despite the increased LVMI do not manifest increased LM dimensions. This may affect mid-term clinical outcome.     

孤立性左冠状动脉主干狭窄的诊治分析

目的分析孤立性左冠状动脉主干(左主干)狭窄的临床特点、造影所见和治疗方法.方法根据冠状动脉造影病变特点将129例左主干狭窄患者分为两组:孤立性左主干狭窄组7例;左主干合并一支或以上主要冠状动脉支狭窄组122例,对比分析两组间临床特点、造影所见和治疗方法.结果孤立性左冠状动脉主干狭窄的检出率为0.16%.6例表现为不稳定型心绞痛,1例为急性前壁心肌梗死.左主干狭窄部位:开口部4例,中部2例,叉口部1例.4例行外科手术,3例行冠状动脉支架术.与复合病变组相比较,孤立性左主干狭窄组女性的比例较高(57.1%vs20.5%,P<0.05),平均年龄较小[(52.3±5.1)岁vs(64.2±7.8)岁,P<0.001];开口部狭窄多见(57.1%vs17.2%,P<0.05).结论孤立性左冠状动脉主干狭窄以女性多见,以开口部狭窄多见,可选择外科和介入治疗.     

Surgical ostioplasty for isolated ostial stenosis of the left main stem coronary artery.

We report the cases of 4 patients in whom surgical ostioplasty was performed for isolated severe ostial stenosis of the left main stem coronary artery. No perioperative death or myocardial infarction occurred. One patient required reoperation for symptomatic recurrent ostial stenosis after 6 months. The others remained angina free after a mean follow-up of 23 months. The literature associated with this procedure is briefly reviewed.