Reoperation for Aortocoronary Bypass

peer reviewedIterative aorto-coronary bypass. From 1978 to 1988, 106 previously revascularized coronary patients were reoperated. This represents 3.01% of all aorta-coronary bypass procedures performed in the same period. Characteristics of this group, risk factors, coronary anatomical data, perioperative morbidity and mortality are analyzed and compared to the data of primary revascularization. The progression of atherosclerotic disease, with an annual 2% attrition rate of bypass grafts after the first year, is evidenced by this study. The success rate of coronary reoperations approaches the results of primary bypass surgery. The causes of recurrent angina and graft failure are discussed. The mean age of individuals requiring reoperation is 58.5 years. The mean interval between the two operations reaches 66 months (5 to 168 months). Angiographic lesions are more extensive, with a three vessel disease in 75% of the reoperated patients and an ejection fraction lowered at 55%. A mean of 2.7 bypass grafts per patient is realized, with in 60% of cases an internal mammary artery graft. Perioperative infarction occurs in 10.5% of the reoperations and in 4.5%, an intraaortic counterpulsation balloon is necessary at the end of the procedure. Symptomatic improvement is obtained in 85% of cases. Operative mortality is 5.7%. These findings suggest that coronary reoperation can be accomplished with low morbidity, low mortality and a therapeutic benefit in the majority of cases. In recent years, cardiac transplantation has been considered for some patients with impaired ventricular function. This procedure is only limited by the insufficient number of donors