Reconstructive Coronary Artery Surgery

From May 1967 through May 1969, a total of 303 patients underwent venous autograft reconstructions for occlusive coronary artery disease, with an overall mortality of 5.6%. With subsequent experience the hospital mortality has been reduced to less than 5%. The first 100 patients have been followed-up for more than one year. Eighty-six percent of the survivors have had postoperative angiographic study, and in 86% of these the graft was demonstrated to be patent. Eighty percent had no significant residual obstruction in the artery operated upon and there was good correlation between the angiographic result and symptomatic improvement. The venous autograft technique offers immediate restoration of more effective myocardial perfusion, with attendant protection against myocardial infarction and improvement in symptoms of myocardial ischemia.