EMERGENCY ANGIOPLASTY FOR COMPLETE THROMB OSIS OF THE LEFT MAIN CORONARY-ARTERY - A CASE-REPORT

Complete thrombosis of the left main coronary artery is a rare angiogr aphic finding and usually gives rise to cardiogenic shock during unsta ble angina or myocardial infarction. The prognosis of this condition i s very dependant on the collateral coronary circulation and the myocar dial protection seems to depend on the rapidity of revascularisation, Two therapeutic approaches may be envisaged; emergency coronary bypass grafting or percutaneous angioplasty, the natural history being parti cularly disastrous. The authors report the case of a 42-year-old patie nt with complete occlusion of the left main stem responsible for unsta ble angina and acute pulmonary oedema. The outcome with angioplasty in the acute phase associated with surgical revascularisation four days later, was good.