A comparison between coronary artery bypass grafting surgery and drug eluting stent for the treatment of unprotected left main coronary artery disease in elderly patients (aged > or =75 years).

Aims: In this study, we compared the clinical outcomes of elderly patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenosis treated with either coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or drug-eluting stent (DES).

Methods And Results: From January 2003 to April 2006, 259 patients with ULMCA stenosis and age > or =75 years underwent coronary revascularization with either CABG or DES. One hundred and sixty-one patients were treated with CABG and 98 with DES. The cumulative unadjusted rates of 2-year mortality were 17% in CABG-treated patients and 18% in those treated with DES (P = 0.71). The adjusted rates of 2-year survival were 85% for CABG-treated patients and 87% for DES-treated patients (P = 0.74). The incidence of 2-year myocardial infarction was 6% in CABG-treated patients and 4% in DES-treated patients (P = 0.11). The incidence of target lesion revascularization (TLR) was 3% in CABG-treated patients and 25% in DES-treated patients (P < 0.0001). In the multivariable analysis, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular ejection fraction and acute coronary syndrome were independent predictors of 2-year mortality.

Conclusion: In this study, we could not demonstrate a difference in mortality between CABG-treated patients and those treated with DES. However, the rate of TLR was higher in the DES group.