Saphenous vein grafting for angina.

An analysis of 200 consecutive patients treated by saphenous-vein bypass grafting has been carried out. One patient died in hospital, and one died nine months after surgery. Some of the factors which predispose to postoperative complications can be defined preoperatively. These are unstable angina, multiple vessels disease, and impaired left ventricular function. The complications of postoperative infarction, low cardiac output, and arrhythmia were higher in the presence of these factors. The use of cardioplegic myocardial protection lessened the incidence of complications in patients with impaired left ventricular function. Early follow-up revealed 96% of patients truly or virtually angina-free. Three patients suffered infarction within nine months of operation.