The feasibility of surgical patch osteoplasty in isolated left main coronary stenosis.

Abstract

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is perceived as the most common treatment for left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease with good results compared to left-main stenting or medical therapy. Surgical patch angioplasty (SPA) may present a substitute to the standard CABG in patients with isolated LMCA disease, and it offers physiological antegrade myocardial perfusion, keeps ostial patency and saves bypass material. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of patch osteoplasty in patients with isolated LMCA stenosis.
 Methods: This is a retrospective study performed on eight patients with angiographically proven ostial or proximal LMCA stenosis who underwent surgical patch angioplasty. Two of them had associated right coronary artery bypass grafting. All patients were performed with cardiopulmonary bypass and saphenous vein patch. An anterior approach with transverse aortotomy was utilized in all cases. Patients were followed-up clinically for a mean period of 14 months (ranging from 26 to 6 months) for recurrence of symptoms and any postoperative complications.
 Results: The early postoperative period was uneventful in all patients. No perioperative mortality was reported. Two patients had postoperative atrial fibrillation, and one patient with poor left ventricular function required preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump. Angiography was done in the first three cases, and all showed no restenosis and no vein patch dilatation.
 Conclusion: Surgical patch angioplasty may be a safe and suitable alternative to CABG in selected patients with isolated ostial LMCA stenosis. Further studies are needed to compare the results of the SPA with those of standard CABG and LMCA stenting.