[Stenosis of the trunk of the left coronary artery. Contribution of coronary arteriography and hemodynamic correlations. Apropos of 34 cases].

From a study of 34 cases, the authors have tried to define the characteristic features of this very specialised type of coronary artery disease. From the clinical standpoint, if the common combination of uncontrolled angina and a past history of myocardial infarction are taken as representative, the basal ECG can in no way differentiate the diagnosis; on the other hand tests on the bicycle ergometer appear to have a good indicative value. Coronary arteriography shows the sharply isolated character of the stenosis of the trunk which is part of the picture of diffuse coronary disease, and the frequency (2 cases out of 3) of total coronary occlusion. The haemodynamic findings are even more variable and unpredictable, and bear no relationship to the degree of trunk stenosis, to the index of the lesion, and to the number of occlusions. However, joint analysis of the index of the lesion and of the degree to which the coronary circulation is compensated or de-compensated allows a better interpretation of the haemodynamic picture.