Elective stenting of unprotected left main coronary disease

For the 12-mo period of 1995, we encountered seven consecutive patients with symptomatic unprotected left main coronary stenosis requiring revascularization. There were five males and two females, age ranging 48-76 years. One patient was referred to coronary bypass surgery. Of the remaining six patients, three refused surgery and the other three, including one with previous bypass surgery and two with previous interventional procedures, preferred percutaneous revascularization. All six had successful elective stenting of their left main coronary stenoses with the new short Palmaz-Schatz stents, P084 and PS104. There were no complications and all remained totally asymptomatic at 3-14 months followup. We conclude that with proper patient selection and the availability of appropriate stents, elective stenting of unprotected left main coronary stenosis is safe with good immediate and medium term results.