[Improved angina-free work tolerance up to 6 years following bypass operation according to degree of revascularization].

Bypass surgery improves exercise performance in a high percentage of patients with effort angina. The influence of the degree of revascularization on the extent and duration of improvement of exercise parameters was evaluated in 415 patients with angiographically determined degrees of revascularization (REV) by serial exercise testing 1-6 years after bypass surgery. Patients with three different degrees of REV are compared. REV I: All vessels up to 50% stenosed have a patent graft. REV II: The main vessel supplying the left ventricle (LV) has a patent graft. REV III: The main vessel supplying the LV has not a patent graft but at least one additional graft is patent. Angina-free exercise tolerance in watts, the maximum double product (HR X BP), and the percentage of patients with angina pectoris and ST-segment depression during exercise were recorded. In patients with REV I and II the angina-free exercise tolerance was improved up to 6 years after bypass surgery but in patients with REV III only 2 years afterwards. Patients with REV I, REV II, and REV III showed improvement of all three parameters for 6 years, 4 years and 1 year respectively. The completeness of revascularization is an important determinant in the longterm improvement of postoperative exercise parameters up to 6 years after surgery.