SOME OBSERVATIONS ON MYOCARDIAL REVASCULARIZATION.

Since 1929 various surgical procedures have been devised to revascularize the ischemic heart to provide it with blood from extracoronary sources. A comparative study has been carried out in 80 mongrel dogs over a two-year period to evaluate the relative merits of cardio-omentopexy, left atrial pulmonary artery anastomosis and the Ivalon sponge operation. The Ivalon sponge procedure proved to be most effective in relieving artificially produced myocardial ischemia. The procedure has subsequently been carried out in two patients with crippling angina pectoris, and a complete relief of symptoms has been achieved in both.