Left Main Stenting

The left main coronary artery (LMCA) supplies blood to the heart's left ventricle. If this artery becomes blocked it impedes blood flow. Traditionally, surgeons have performed open heart surgery, often a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), to create a detour around the blockage and restore blood flow.

However some patients with advanced coronary artery disease are candidates for a procedure called left main stenting. This procedure involves placing a metal stent coated with a time-release medication into the artery to open the blockage. Pioneered by Samin K. Sharma, MD, Director of Clinical and Interventional Cardiology, and President of Mount Sinai Heart Network, this minimally invasive technique can lower the risk of complications, shorten hospital stays, and speed recovery when compared with traditional CABG surgery. 

Determining When Left Main Stenting is the Best Option

Left main coronary artery stenting is typically suitable for patients who are at high risk for surgical complications or have comorbidities. Patients with advanced aortic calcification, low life expectancy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or cerebrovascular disease, for instance, may be good candidates for this procedure.

When determining the most appropriate procedure for your situation, our physicians also take into consideration your SYNTAX score, which is a grading tool for determining the complexity of coronary artery disease. If you have a lower SYNTAX score, you are more likely to be a candidate for LMCA stenting.