Endovascular treatment of unprotected left main coronary artery disease

Abstract

Coronary artery bypass surgery is considered as the gold standard treatment of unprotected left main coronary
artery (ULMCA) disease. Over the last 20 years, improvement in stent technology and operators experience
explained the increased number of reports on the results of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs)
for the treatment of left main (LM) coronary artery lesion. The recent data comparing efficacy and safety
of PCIs using drug-eluting stent and coronary artery bypass surgery showed comparable results in terms of
safety and a lower need for repeat revascularization for coronary artery bypass surgery. Patient selection for
both techniques is fundamental and directly impacts the clinical outcome. Further randomized trials must be
conducted to precise the indications of both techniques of revascularization in the treatment of LM disease