Diabetic patient with three-vessel disease and left main involvement. Surgery yes, but not always

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is known to be the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. Although they do not often show typical recognized symptoms, diabetic patients suffer from more extensive CAD and hence higher incidence of multi-vessel CAD than in non-diabetic subjects. Literature has given the strength of evidence in favor of surgical revascularization in diabetic patients with multi-vessel disease. We report the case of a 61-year old active smoker and diabetic man with atypical symptoms and positive treadmill test. The coronary angiography revealed a severe three-vessel disease and distal left main involvement (SYNTAX score=49). As the patient refused to follow heart team indication to undergo coronary bypass grafting, a percutaneous coronary intervention was successfully performed with intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation support and intravascular ultrasound optimization. The mid-term outcome was good.