Abstract

Case Presentation

Figure 1: A the left coronary arteriogram shows the total occlusion of the left main coronary artery.

The right coronary arteriogram was normal and revealed good, well-developed collaterals. The left anterior descending and left circumflex arteries were opacified through good collaterals from the right coronary artery (Figure 2). Both the left anterior descending and left circumflex coronary artery were also totally occluded in the proximal portions. The left ventricular wall motion was normal.

Figure 2: A right coronary arteriogram shows the opacification of the left system by good collaterals from the right coronary artery.

On-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery was performed. We used both antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia for better myocardial preservation.[4] The left internal thoracic artery was used for the left anterior descending artery bypass and a saphenous vein graft for the circumflex artery grafting. During the six-month postoperative period, the patient did not suffer from chest pain, and the treadmill exercise test remained negative.

Discussion

Since the LMCA supplies blood to a large part of the myocardium, patients with total occlusion of the LMCA are generally believed to have a poor prognosis. Some articles report that patients with a dominant right coronary artery and sufficient collateral circulation to the left coronary artery region are more likely to survive. Topaz et al.[6] emphasized the importance of collateral vessels and reported 13 collateral pathways in patients with chronic LMCA occlusion. Such a situation is found in 0.05% of coronary angiographies. The left ventricular function depends on the absence or coexistence of the right coronary lesions. Most of the lesions are regarded as atherosclerotic. Inflammatory diseases, such as Kawasaki disease, and congenital diseases, such as congenital atresia of the LMCA, are very rare. The onset of symptoms due to congenital diseases is generally in childhood.

The clinical course of patients with chronic total occlusion of the LMCA is varied, with the majority of patients complaining of recurrent stenocardial pain. They also have a history of myocardial infarction and may also present with symptoms of heart failure. However, our patient complained only of mild chest pain and palpitation.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery has been regarded as the first choice for the treatment of chronic total occlusion of the LMCA, although some cases are known to survive several years without surgery.[7,8]

In conclusion, chronic total occlusion of the left main artery is a rare condition, and surgery is highly recommended.[9,10] A fter s uccessful C ABG s urgery, our patient recovered well and had no other symptoms within a six-month follow-up period.

Declaration of conflicting interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Funding
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

References

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