Surgery for left main coronary artery disease

The early and late results of the first 103 patients with left main coronary obstruction submitted to bypass grafting in South Australia are presented. A satisfactory hospital mortality of 2.9% and a surprisingly low late mortality of 2.9% (at an average follow-up time of 30 months), were obtained, and these figures, when taken in conjunction with a symptomatic relief rate of 83% at 24 months, have encouraged us to continue to recommend coronary artery grafting as the treatment of choice of left main stem disease.