Sudden death in patients awaiting coronary artery surgery.

Lewis, B. S. and Gotsman, M. S. (1974).Thorax, 29, 209-214. Sudden death in patients awaiting coronary artery surgery. Six patients with coronary artery disease are described who died suddenly while awaiting an operation to revascularize the myocardium. Each patient had recent onset of severe angina pectoris and this was caused by critical narrowing(s) of 90% or more of a major coronary artery(ies) supplying a large portion of the left ventricular myocardium. The syndrome can be diagnosed only by cardiac catheterization and high quality coronary arteriography. Patients in whom the myocardial blood supply is critically compromised must be recognized. These patients are liable to sudden death and require urgent myocardial revascularization.