Angina following aortocoronary bypass surgery.

43 patients (group A) who had a recurrence of angina after aortocoronary bypass surgery were compared with 93 (group AF) who remained symptom free for at least 1 yr in order to assess the effects of pre- and intraoperative factors on the outcome of surgery. Age and sex distribution, severity and duration of preoperative angina, incidence of preoperative infarction, known coronary risk factors and severity of coronary artery disease assessed angiographically, were similar in the 2 groups. Group A had a lower preoperative exercise tolerance (434 V, 517 ppm/min; P less than 0.05) and a greater proportion of patients with cardiac enlargement (33% V, 14%; P less than 0.05). Fewer grafts were implanted in this group (1.65 V, 2.05; P less than 0.01) which consequently had a higher postoperative coronary score (2.47 V, 1.69; P less than 0.05). It appears that the extent of myocardial revascularization may influence the symptomatic result of aortocoronary bypass surgery.