[11-year survival following aortocoronary bypass surgery]

To evaluate longterm survival after a first aortocoronary bypass operation we followed up all such patients with operations between July 1971 and June 1980. Included were 1041 patients, mean follow-up time was 11 years (8.5-17.4). Data were complete in 98%. The perioperative mortality equalled 1.2%, survival probability at 5 and 10 years was 92% and 77%, respectively. The yearly mortality rate increased from the fifth year onward up to 5% in the tenth. Of the deceased patients 72% had a cardiac cause of death. Extent of vascular involvement, quality of left ventricular function and age at operation had an important influence on survival probability. The aortocoronary bypass operation is a safe procedure, with a good prognosis for survival, but does not prevent cardiac death in the future.