[Profil and course of complete obstruction of 3 coronary trunks]
Insights
Patients with complete obstruction of three major coronary arteries have a poor prognosis. Early surgical intervention is recommended for significant three-vessel coronary artery disease to improve survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Surgery
Context:
- Coronary arteriography identified 12 patients (0.3%) with complete obstruction of three major coronary arteries.
- Clinical presentations varied, with many not exhibiting typical angina or dyspnea despite previous myocardial infarction or heart failure.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the clinical manifestations, outcomes, and treatment efficacy for patients with complete three-vessel coronary artery obstruction.
Summary:
- Resting EKGs were abnormal in most patients, and half had elevated end-diastolic pressure and impaired left ventricular contraction.
- Surgery in 7 patients resulted in one operative death, but a 20% yearly mortality rate was observed over 3 years.
- This high mortality and functional impairment suggest considering surgery before complete obstruction in significant three-vessel coronary artery disease.
Impact:
- The findings underscore the critical need for timely surgical intervention in patients with severe three-vessel coronary artery disease to enhance long-term survival.
- A 10% yearly mortality rate in triple vessel obstruction cases further supports surgical consideration, contingent on good distal runoff and left ventricular function.
Abstract:
In a series of 4000 patients subjected to coronary arteriography, 12 were found to have complete obstruction of three major coronary arteries, an incidence of 0.3 p. 100. The clinical manifestations did not follow a typical pattern. Although 9 had a previous myocardial infarction or heart failure, only 6 were incapacitated by angina or dyspnea. Except for one patient, the resting EKG was abnormal. Half had a markedly elevated resting end-diastolic pressure and gross abnormalities of left ventricular contraction. In spite of surgery in 7, with only one operative death, a yearly mortality rate of 20 p. 100 has been recorded during a 3-year follow-up. This extremely low survival rate, the severe functional impairment in half of the survivors, and the subsequent high yearly mortality rate, all suggest that surgery be considered before complete obstruction occurs in patients with significant disease of three coronary arteries. A 10 p. 100 yearly mortality rate reported in patients with triple vessel obstructions, also favours surgery in such patients with the hope of prolonging life, providing good distal runoff and satisfactory left ventricular contraction are present.
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