Accuracy of treadmill testing in assessment of direct myocardial revascularization.

Near-maximal treadmill exercise tests (TET) performed at the time of coronary arteriography and bypass graft visualization an average of 13 months after direct myocardial revascularization were analyzed in 217 consecutive patients to assess the accuracy of the TET in predicting completeness of revascularization. TET results were correlated with bypass patency and extent of revascularization. Although conversion of a TET from an abnormal to a normal test or relief of TET-induced angina following surgery is closely correlated with bypass graft patency, the high incidence of normal exercise tests in the presence of residual coronary disease limits their usefulness in the individual postoperative patient in estimating the completeness of revascularization.