Left Main Equivalent Disease

Q: What is Left main equivalent disease? 


Answer:  Although left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) is a well-known disease, and a subject of frequent discussions, unfortunately, less attention gets paid to Left main equivalent disease, which is equally dreaded in morbidity and mortality.  Left main equivalent disease is defined as a combination of severe i.e. > 70 % stenosis of proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and proximal left circumflex disease. It signifies a poor prognosis. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is associated with improved survival.

#cardiology
#surgicalcriticalcare


References:

1. Chaitman BR, Davis K, Fisher LD, et al. A life table and Cox regression analysis of patients with combined proximal left anterior descending and proximal left circumflex coronary artery disease: non-left main equivalent lesions (CASS). Circulation 1983; 68:1163. 

2. Caracciolo EA, Davis KB, Sopko G, et al. Comparison of surgical and medical group survival in patients with left main equivalent coronary artery disease. Long-term CASS experience. Circulation 1995; 91:2335.