Follow-up of patients with saphenous vein bypass grafts for angina pectoris
Pate, J.W.; Eubanks, D.; Richardson, R.L.; Eades, T.W.
American Surgeon 42(6): 381-385
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1348 PMID: 1084718 Document Number: 102082
These studies are in agreement with others that aortocoronary vein grafts done for severe angina pectoris are associated with a low operative and late mortality rate. Most patients were significantly improved in regard to pain and exercise tolerance. "Optimal" graft site is associated with a graft patency rate of about 90 per cent. There is clear evidence that left ventricular function, particularly with exercise, is improved in some patients. When a graft is placed in an obstructed coronary artery supplying a segment of abnormally contracting myocardium, there frequently is significant improvement of contraction when the graft remains patent.