| Abstract: | These studies are in agreement with others that aortocoronary vein grafts done for severe angina pectoris are associated with a low operative and late mortality rate. Most patients were significantly improved in regard to pain and exercise tolerance. "Optimal" graft site is associated with a graft patency rate of about 90 per cent. There is clear evidence that left ventricular function, particularly with exercise, is improved in some patients. When a graft is placed in an obstructed coronary artery supplying a segment of abnormally contracting myocardium, there frequently is significant improvement of contraction when the graft remains patent. |
