Experience with reoperation following coronary bypass grafting

Thirty-four of 1152 patients who had undergone aortocoronary bypass grafting underwent reoperation. There were no early or late deaths among these 34 patients. The average time between operations was 14 months. At the initial operation, 88 grafts and 10 internal mammary implants were placed; at reoperation, 56 grafts and 8 internal mammary implants were placed and a left ventricular aneurysm was plicated. Twenty patients underwent reoperation for graft stenosis or occlusion, five because of progression of coronary artery disease, seven because of combined progression disease and graft occlusion and two to correct technical errors. Improvement in the class of angina was 1.1 classes at an average follow-up of 9 months. The authors believe that reoperation for coronary bypass grafting can be performed safely with symptomatic improvement for the patient.