[Surgical treatment of left main stenosis in coronary artery disease]

To study the efficacy of surgical treatment in the patients with left main stenosis of 50% or more.

Forty-two patients with left main stenosis (LMS) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Their mean age was 68.7 years. 16 patients had 50% to 75% LMS and 26 patients more than 75%. Twenty-nine patients had unstable angina. Seventeen patients with angina were in class III according to CCSS and 18 were in class IV. Preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction in 24 patients was beyond 50%.

The mean preoperative hospital stay was 2.3 days. The mean number of grafts was 3.3 per patient. There was no operative death. The patients were all free from angina postoperatively. The mean follow up time was 42 (3 to approximately 78) months without death.

Coronary artery bypass grafting is the first choice to treat left main stenosis. It is a safe and effective method. To determine properly the time of surgical intervention is helpful to reduce preoperative cardiac affairs and improve operative efficacy.