[Surgical treatment of Prinzmetal's angina pectoris by plexectomy associated with aortocoronary bypass. Apropos of 56 cases].

The results of coronary bypass surgery are generally not as good in Prinzmetal angina as in classical angina pectoris. The percentage of myocardial infarction, recurrent angina and death is much higher. One reason for these failures could be the persistence of coronary spasm. In order to prevent this, denervation of the pre-supra and retro aortic nerve plexuses was carried out in 56 patients (54 male, 2 female) with Prinzmetal angina and operable coronary arterial lesions. Forty patients had documented coronary spasm mainly of the left anterior descending (20 cases) or the right coronary artery (13 cases). Surgery consisted of cardiac denervation associated with direct myocardial revascularisation by implantation of I (37 cases), 2 (13 cases) or 3 (6 cases) aorto coronary bypass grafts. Two deaths were observed in the perioperative period (one low output syndrome and one severe arrhythmia) and one myocardial infarction in the postoperative period. Of the 54 survivors, 49 are asymptomatic and 2 have recurrent spontaneous angina. Exercise electrocardiography in 44 patients was negative in 40 cases. Continuous electrocardiographic recordings (Holter method) in 33 patients was negative for ischemia and of 25 bypass grafts controlled, 24 were patent. Seventy five methylergometrine provocation tests were performed: only 2 were positive, both in patients with recurrent attacks. Therefore, with respect to the total numbers of recurrent angina (2), post operative infarction (I), peri and post operative deaths (3), the percentage of poor results was only 10,7 p. 100, almost three times lower than in previously reported series. In conclusion, we can say that the association of cardiac denervation with coronary bypass surgery significantly improves the percentage of good results (89,3 p. 100 of patients presenting with Prinzmetal angina).