FACTORS AFFECTING OPERATIVE MORTALITY IN AORTOCORONARY BYPASS SURGERY

Abstract

Twelve operative deaths were seen in 169 patients who underwent aortocoronary bypass grafting for ischemic heart disease from 1975 to July, 1985.
The clinical, angiographic and intraoperative characteristics were evaluated to understand the factors predictive of operative mortality.
Clinical factors affecting operative mortality were age and unstable angina pectoris. Angiographic factors were coronary artery lesions including left main coronary trunk stenosis and 3-vessel disease. Intraoperative factors were incomplete revascularization and myocardial preservation.
There were no significant differences between operative mortality rates for patients with and without a history of prior myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus and left ventricular dysfunction. The number of grafts did not affect operative mortality.
There was a strong association of operative mortality with incomplete revascularization in patients with severe coronary artery disease.