Current management of left main coronary artery disease

Coronary artery bypass surgery is considered as the gold standard treatment of unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease. Over the last 20 years, improvement in stent technology and operators experience explained the increased number of reports on the results of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) for the treatment of left main (LM) coronary artery lesion. The recent data comparing efficacy and safety of PCIs using drug-eluting stent and coronary artery bypass surgery showed comparable results in terms of safety and a lower need for repeat revascularization for coronary artery bypass surgery. Patient selection for both techniques is fundamental and directly impacts the clinical outcome. Further randomized trials must be conducted to precise the indications of both techniques of revascularization in the treatment of LM disease. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved.