INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND FINDINGS IN STENTING OF UNPROTECTED LEFT MAIN CORONARY-ARTERY STENOSIS

We evaluated the role of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in 16 patient s with unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenting compared with 80 patients with other (non-LMCA) native coronary artery stenting and found that (1) additional high-pressure or larger size balloon di lations were more frequently performed in LMCA stenting than in non-LM CA stenting (p < 0.05) and (2) after IVUS-guided stent implantation, m inimum lumen area was greater than or equal to 9 mm(2) in 88% of patie nts who underwent LMCA stenting and in 19% of those who underwent non- LMCA stenting (p < 0.001). IVUS guidance may be a more important adjun ctive imaging modality in the stenting of unprotected LMCA stenoses th an in stenting of non-LMCA stenoses.