[Postmortem investigations after coronary artery bypass surgery (author's transl)]

On the basis of postmortem findings in 60 patients who had undergone aorto-coronary vein graft bypass and 145 patients with coronary heart disease we show the morphological risk factors associated with this operation. Arteriosclerosis of the coronary artery in the region of the anastomosis and the stenosed or scared coronary outflow pathways are attended by high risk. A large difference in calibre between the vein and the coronary artery is also a risk factor. The knowledge of the morphology of the coronary muscle bridge helps to avoid operative complications. The progression of coronary artery sclerosis in the overbridged stenosis depends from the degree and the histological qualitiy of this stenosis. Beyond critical stenoses of the coronary arteries operable myocardium is evident in 89,4%, even beyond coronary occlusions revascularisation is possible in 58,9%.