Determinants of Survival After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Review of our first 180 consecutive patients undergoing myocardial revascularization surgery at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital shows that the over-all surgical mortality was 5.5%. Mortality in patients not in shock at the time of operation was 2.3%. The only major determinant of surgical survival appeared to be adequacy of left ventricular contraction, as indicated primarily by an ejection fraction above 40%. Of 116 patients operated on for relief of chronic angina pectoris or the intermediate coronary syndrome, 71% were free of angina 6 to 24 months (average 8.9) after surgery. The aggregate operative and late mortality in this group during the period of follow-up was 4.3%.