REVIEW  PCI HOT TOPICS 

Minerva Cardioangiologica 2020 October;68(5):405-14

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4725.20.05198-1

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Left main coronary artery disease: when and how to perform PCI?

Mauro CHIARITO ^{1, 2}, Julinda MEHILLI ^{3, 4} ✉

¹ Cardio Center, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; ² Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; ³ Department of Cardiology, Munich University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany; ⁴ German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany

Left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease has been reported in up to 10% of all patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and in the majority of cases are associated with severe three-vessel CAD. Among patients with chronic coronary syndrome revascularization of significant LMCA disease improves prognosis, while there is a debate about which revascularization strategy, CABG surgery or percutaneous coronary interventions to use. We do a review of the available evidence about the impact of LMCA lesions on patient prognosis according to CAD extension and clinical presentation, the outcome after percutaneous or surgical revascularization, the procedural challenges of LMCA PCI and the available armamentarium to optimally treat this relevant population.

KEY WORDS: Coronary artery disease; Percutaneous coronary intervention; Drug-eluting stents; Coronary artery bypass