Operative mortality after coronary artery surgery. A seven-year experience of 1500 consecutive operations

Between January 1978 and August 1985, 1500 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting by one surgical team, with a total mortality of 0.46% (seven patients). All these patients were suffering from class 3 or class 4 angina and more than half (54%) had evidence of preoperative infarction. The achievement of minimal mortality and morbidity is the immediate aim of surgery; a continuing long-term improvement in symptoms and life expectancy is the ultimate goal. Every physician should be aware of the risks of the invasive treatment of coronary artery disease either by bypass grafting or by angioplasty.