Coronary artery bypass graft versus drug-eluting stent for high-risk proximal left anterior descending stenosis.

OPINION STATEMENT: Determining how to treat a patient with symptomatic isolated proximal left anterior descending coronary artery disease may present a challenge. Previous randomized trials comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bare metal stents with minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery demonstrated significantly higher reintervention rates for stenting, with similar mortality and reinfarction rates. However, current evidence suggests that the use of drug-eluting stents may reduce the need for repeat revascularization. Also, in recent studies there were fewer periprocedural complications in patients undergoing PCI, with similar death and reinfarction rates. Moreover, the quality of life for patients who have received drug-eluting stents is similar to that of patients who have undergone minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery. Therefore, PCI with drug-eluting stents is the current treatment of choice for patients with isolated proximal left anterior descending coronary artery disease, unless they have complex lesions or repeated in-stent restenosis. In this article, the current treatment options are reviewed and outlined.