"A Single-Center Study of Unprotected Left Main PCI in Central India: Real-World Comparison of Low vs. High SYNTAX Scores and of Imaging-Guided vs. Non-Imaging-Guided Interventions".

Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a major global health concern, with left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease posing high risks due to the large myocardial area it supplies. Despite coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) being the preferred revascularization strategy for unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES) has emerged as a viable alternative. However, data on ULMCA PCI outcomes in the Indian subcontinent are scarce. Materials and Methods: This single-center, retrospective study evaluated 253 patients who underwent ULMCA PCI using DES between January 2018 and June 2023 in Central India. Clinical, angiographic, and procedural data were analyzed with a median follow-up of 753.5 days. Comparative analyses were conducted based on SYNTAX scores and imagingguided versus non-imaging-guided interventions. Results: The cohort's mean age was 61.3 years, with a predominantly male population (77.5%). Imaging guidance was employed in 30.4% of cases. The composite outcome (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke) occurred in 11.6% of patients. Higher age and hypertension were identified as significant predictors of adverse outcomes. Conclusion: In this study, PCI for unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease using drug-eluting stents (DES) demonstrated favorable short- and mid-term outcomes in an Indian cohort, even in a resource-limited setting. While procedural success was high, factors such as SYNTAX score and patient comorbidities such as age >60 yrs, hypertension significantly influenced outcomes. Imaging-guided interventions, though not altering mortality rates, appeared to enhance procedural safety. These findings support the feasibility of PCI as an alternative to surgery in select high-risk patients, emphasizing the need for further research to refine risk stratification and optimize intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]