[Surgical treatment of left main coronary artery stenosis]

Abstract

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.