Clinical and electrocardiographic features in acute total left main coronary artery occlusion without collateral circulation

Abstract

Backgrounds: Study concerning the clinical features, electrocardiogram (ECG) findings and outcomes in patients presenting with acute total occlusion of left main coronary artery (LM) without collateral circulation is limited.

Methods: 25 patients with acute total LM occlusion without collateral circulation by emergency coronary angiography, from muti-center registry, were retrospectively studied. The clinical and angiographic characteristics, ECG and in-hospital mortality were reviewed.

Results: Nineteen patients (76%) presented with cardiogenic shock. Twelve (60%, 12/20) patients had coronary slow flow or no reflow phenomenon after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The in-hospital mortality rate was 88% (n = 22). All the patients presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial ischemia (STEMI) pattern, mostly involving leads I, aVL, V2, V3, V4, V5 and ST-segment depression in leads II, III and aVF.

Conclusions: Acute total LM occlusion without collateral circulation portends high in-hospital mortality. Anterior ST elevation in the precordial leads from V2 to V4 through V6, and ST elevation in leads I and aVL, accompanying with ST depression in the inferior leads is associated with acute total LM occlusion without collateral circulation.

Keywords: Acute total left main occlusion; Electrocardiogram; In-hospital mortality.