Immediate Revascularization of the Heart

The surgical treatment of myocardial ischemia demands immediate revascularization. In 70 patients this demand was met by the use of 114 aorta-to-coronary artery saphenous vein bypass grafts. Thirty-four single, 28 double, and 8 triple bypass grafts were used. They were taken to the right coronary artery (38 times), to the left anterior descending coronary artery (60 times), and to the circumflex coronary artery (16 times). There were 28 patients with three-vessel coronary disease (stenosis greater than 75%) and 15 with two-vessel disease. In spite of this, the operative mortality was only 10% (7 of 70), and four patients died of their disease while awaiting surgery. Relief of symptoms, which occurs without delay, has continued in 81% of the patients (57 of 70). The use of aorta-to-coronary artery saphenous vein bypass grafts "jump grafts" is proposed as being widely applicable, very effective, and the safest procedure available for the surgical treatment of coronary artery occlusive disease. More observations on longterm results are still needed.