Drug-eluting stent supported percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main disease.

Objectives: This study sought to determine the clinical and angiographic outcomes of unselected patients receiving drug-eluting stents for unprotected left main disease.

Background: The results of several series of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for left main disease in the pre-drug-eluting stent era have arisen concerns on the safety and mid-term efficacy of PCI.

Methods: Consecutive patients with unprotected left main disease were considered eligible for drug-eluting stent supported PCI. The surgical risk score (risk of death within 1 month) of each patient was calculated according to the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) model.

Results: One-hundred and one patients with unprotected left main disease underwent PCI. The mean EuroSCORE was 19 +/- 23. Successfully left main stenting was performed in 98 patients (primary success rate 97%). The overall 1-month mortality rate was 9.9%. The 1-month mortality rate was 50% in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on presentation, and 4.5% in patients without AMI on presentation. The 1-month mortality rate of patients with a risk score <13 was 3%, while it was 21% in patients with a risk score >or=13. At 6 months, the mortality rate of the entire cohort of patients increased to 12.8%, and the one of the non-AMI patients to 7.8%. Survival rate was 86% +/- 4% (mean follow-up 295 +/- 175 days). Target vessel revascularization was performed in 14 patients (16%). The 6-month in-segment restenosis rate was 16%.

Conclusion: Drug-eluting stent supported PCI may provide early and mid-term outcomes comparable or superior to those expected from coronary artery surgery. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.