Five-year outcomes after stenting of unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis in patients with normal left ventricular function

Background We analyzed the long-term (5-year) outcome of patients treated with stenting for unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis. Methods Between January 1995 and September 2001, 187 consecutive patients with unprotected LMCA stenosis and normal left ventricular function underwent elective stenting. Patients were examined or interviewed after 1, 3 and 6 months, and every 4 months thereafter for the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including death, myocardial infarction (MI) and target lesion revascularization (TLR). Results The procedural success rate was 99.5%. During hospitalization, there were no deaths and only one stent thrombosis. Six-month angiography in 162 patients (follow-up rate, 86.6%) showed a restenosis rate of 33.3%. During 5-year follow-up, there were 13 deaths (6 cardiac, 7 noncardiac) and 2 nonfatal MI. TLRs were required in 36 (20.9%) patients and new lesion revascularizations were required in 13 (5.0%) patients. At 1, 3 and 5 years, the cumulative probabilities for freedom from MACE were 79.9 ± 1.8%, 77.5 ± 2.5% and 77.5 ± 2.5%, respectively. Conclusion The initial favorable outcomes of patients with normal left ventricular function after stenting of unprotected LMCA stenosis were sustained for up to 5 years.