Coronary By-pass Operation—Graft and Left Ventricular Function

Of 121 patients surviving a by-pass operation 114 have been followed up hitherto. At first follow-up - usually one year after operation - the angina pectoris was relieved in 87% of the patients and in 85% at least one vein by-pass was patent. A high correlation was found between subjective result and graft patency. Advanced arterial changes at preoperative coronary angiography did not prevent good result after surgery. In about half of the patients whose pain was relieved, the left ventricular ejection fraction was increased postoperatively. However, in many patients, who were subjectively improved, the ejection fraction was unchanged or even decreased.