J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1979 Sep;78(3):452-4.

Surgical treatment of left main and left main equivalent coronary artery disease.

The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery

R Zajtchuk, R A Albus, T E Bowen, W H Brott

PMID: 314023

Abstract

There is a tendency to equate left main (LM) and left main equivalent (LME) coronary artery disease in terms of the surgical risk and benefit. Eighty-seven patients with LM disease were compared to 78 patients with LME disease as to operative mortality rate and long-term benefits. One hundred percent follow-up was obtained. Although the two groups were similar preoperatively with regard to age, sex, and ventricular function, the operative results in the two groups differed. There was a significantly higher operative mortality rate in the LM group of patients (12.6% versus 2.5%). However, the incidence of graft patency and relief of symptoms was lower in the LME group of patients. The late mortality rate was 4% in both groups. LME disease appears to represent a subgroup of patients with three-vessel disease and cannot be equated with LM disease.

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MeSH terms

• Coronary Artery Bypass / mortality
• Coronary Disease / mortality
• Coronary Disease / surgery
• Coronary Vessels*
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged

Publication Types

• Journal Article