TOTAL OCCLUSION OF THE LEFT MAIN CORONARY-ARTERY WITH PRESERVED LEFT-VENTRICULAR FUNCTION

Two patients with total occlusion of the left main coronary artery and well preserved left ventricular function are reported. Twenty one sim ilar cases have been reported in the world literature. All the patient s had angina pectoris. Twenty one of the 23 patients (including our ca ses) underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery while the other tw o received medical treatment. All are alive for a follow-up period of 0.4-67 months. It is concluded that in patients with chronic total occ lusion of the left main coronary artery and well preserved left ventri cular function, collateral flow is always extensive but insufficient t o prevent angina. Functional status is greatly improved by surgery, al though survival is excellent in both treated and non-treated surgicall y patients. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.