Determinants of survival after coronary artery bypass surgery

Review of the authors' first 180 consecutive patients undergoing myocardial revascularization surgery at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital shows that the overall surgical mortality was 5.5%. Mortality in patients not in shock at the time of operation was 2.3%. The only major determinant of surgical survival appeared to be adequacy of left ventricular contraction as indicated primarily by an ejection fraction above 40%. Of 116 patients operated on for relief of chronic angina pectoris or the intermediate coronary syndrome, 71% were free of angina 6 to 24 months (average 8.9) after surgery. The aggregate operative and late mortality in this group during the period of follow up was 4.3%.