Left main coronary stenting in a non surgical octogenarian population: a possible approach

Coronary artery bypass grafting is conventionally considered the standard treatment for significant left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease. The management of LMCA disease in octogenarians is however still debated. The aim of this study was to appreciate the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for LMCA disease in octogenarians who were denied for surgical revascularization. The study included 70 consecutive patients >= 80 years of age who had undergone PCI for the treatment of LMCA and who were primary denied by our center's heart team for surgical revascularization. Mean age was 83.4 +/- 2.6 years. Mean Euroscore was 21.1 +/- 6.7 and mean Syntax score was 28.6 +/- 8.7. Overall in-hospital mortality was 11%. Mean follow-up time was 30.5 +/- 24.2 months. Overall mortality at the end of follow-up was 28%. Cardiac death was found in 18 patients and 2 patients died from terminal renal insufficiency. One patient (2%) presented with a new STEMI, 7 (11.3%) with a new non-STEMI, 13 (21%) with heart failure, and 2 (3.2%) had minor hemorrhage. There was a percutaneous target vessel revascularization in 6 (10%) patients. During follow-up, the total major adverse cerebral and cardiovascular event (MACCE including death, non-fatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI), target lesion revascularization (TLR), or stroke) was 27.4%. Stent implantation was relatively safely applied for the treatment of LMCA disease in octogenarians who were refused for surgery and who represented a high risk population. Despite a non-negligible rate of MACCE, the clinical long term outcome seems correct for this specific population with heavy basal status. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.