SURGICAL ANGIOPLASTY OF THE LEFT MAIN CORONARY-ARTERY - FOLLOW-UP WITH MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

Background. Ostial stenosis of the left main coronary artery is a seri ous condition with a dismal prognosis. The treatment is surgical, with the two viable options being coronary artery bypass grafting and surg ical angioplasty of the left main coronary artery. Methods. We describ e the use of surgical angioplasty to treat 3 patients (2 women and 1 m an) with left main ostial stenosis using the posterior approach. Paten cy of the angioplasty was demonstrated subsequently with magnetic reso nance imaging. Results. All 3 patients were free of angina 12, 18, and 24 months after operation. Magnetic resonance imaging scans in all 3 patients demonstrated the widely patent left main coronary artery. Con clusions. Surgical angioplasty is an effective alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with left main ostial stenosis. Ma gnetic resonance imaging is an excellent noninvasive method for monito ring the patency of the left main coronary artery.