Abstract
Long-term results were studied on 64 patients who had had coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using auto-saphenous veins alone between 1977 and 1986. These patients were divided into two groups, that is, 24 patients undergoing re-catheterization early (one month) and late (more than 10 years) after CABG (Group I) and 40 patients early and late (between 5 and 10 years) after CABG (Group II). Overall graft patency rates at the late periods were 75.6% in Group I and 86.1% in Group II. Patency of the graft to the anterior descending coronary artery was definitely good, showing 86.4% in Group I and 92.5% in Group II. Significant progression of the coronary artery disease was found in 58.3% of Group I and 40% of Group II. Recurrence of angina observed in 37.5% of Group I and 27.5% of Group II was related to the progression of coronary artery disease in majority of these cases of both groups. Left ventricular function was significantly deteriorated in the group of patients with coronary artery disease progressed at the late period. It was concluded that recurrence of angina and left ventricular impairment at the late period was much more related to the progression of coronary artery disease than any graft disease.
