Unexpected death following aortocoronary bypass

Since 1968, 1,800 aortocoronary bypass procedures have been performed with 37 operative or early postoperative deaths (2.1%). Twenty-one deaths (57%) occurred in patients with one or more of the following predetermined risk factors: ventricular aneurysm, decreased left ventricular contractility, left main coronary artery stenosis, valve replacement, recent infarction, or cardiogenic shock. The remaining 16 deaths (43%) were unexpected and occurred in patients with none of these risk factors.