[Stenosis of the left coronary trunk. Apropos of fifteen cases].

Stenosis of the left main trunk was revealed by selective coronary angiography in 15 patients among the 567 who were investigated (2.6%). No case of total occlusion was observed. There was no fatality due to the procedure. As a rule other coronary vessels also show atheromatous lesions. Five patients were not operated: 3 died (60%) after a mean survival period of 14 months following angiography. Among the 10 others who underwent surgery there was no operative mortality, but 2 patients died in the postoperative period (20%). The 8 survivors have been followed for a period ranging from 8 to 61 months (mean: 36 months). All are still alive and much improved clinically. Once the diagnosis of left main trunk stenosis has been established, early surgery should be considered.