Clinical outcomes of transradial unprotected left main coronary artery stenting in the elderly.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the long-term results in elderly patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents for unprotected left main coronary artery disease by transradial approach. METHODS This study took place in Qinhuangdao First Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China between October 2006 and December 2009. Seventy-nine elderly patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenosis, aged >70 years, that underwent drug-eluting stent were evaluated. The occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke or target lesion revascularizations) was recorded after 3 years of follow-up. RESULTS After 3 years follow-up, the MACE free survival rate was 72.2%. Cardiac deaths occurred in 7.6% of patients. Myocardial infarction occurred in 5.1%, and target lesion revascularization in 13.9% of patients. Age and left main distal bifurcation were favorable predictors of MACE. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous coronary intervention can be performed with good angiographic and clinical results through a transradial approach in the elderly. The long term survival suggests that PCI in ULMCA patients ≥ 70 years is safe and efficacious.