Myocardial revascularization for patients with an ejection fraction of 0.2 or less. 12 years' results.

From 1969 through December 31, 1981, a total of 232 patients with an ejection fraction of 0.2 or less (normal 0.67) had myocardial revascularization. The in-hospital mortality in these patients decreased from 25 deaths in 82 patients (30%) from 1969 through 1972 to 10 deaths in 150 patients (7%) from 1973 through December 31, 1981. There was a 24% five-year survival for patients in congestive heart failure at the time of operation, a 40% survival at five years for patients successfully treated for failure before operation and a 60% five-year survival for those patients who had never been in failure. These results would appear to be better than those with cardiac transplantation, with neither the restrictions for operation nor the long-term immunotherapy required with cardiac transplantation.