Coronary bypass surgery for unstable angina pectoris. Clinical follow-up and results of postoperative treadmill electrocardiograms.

The first 81 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery at Stanford University Hospital for unstable angina pectoris have been followed up for an average of 18 months. The over-all surgical mortality was 8.6 per cent (seven patients). There have been no operative deaths in last 32 patients, which may be due to over 75 per cent of these patients being stabilized on intensive medical therapy from 24 to 72 hours before study or surgery. There was a 16 per cent (13 patients) perioperative and 15 per cent (12 patients) late incidence of myocardial infarction. Of 74 patients who survived the initial operation 2 died 2 and 3 months postoperatively. Good or complete relief from pain was obtained in 94 per cent (70 patients) of the survivors. Of 57 longterm survivors tested, 49 per cent (28 patients) had a definite ischemic response to treadmill exercise testing. This may reflect the severe nature of the occlusive coronary disease or mechanisms other than increased coronary flow being responsible for the relief of pain. Although coronary bypass surgery appears to be effective in relieving the pain of patients with unstable angina pectoris, the 18 month average follow-up indicates that the incidence of myocardial infarction in surgically treated patients is comparable to that in medically treated patients.