[Current aspects of aortocoronary shunting]

Current ideas relating to patient selection for surgical treatment are reviewed. Indications for surgery and the scope of intervention are determined in the light of modern knowledge. Multiple shunting of coronary arteries is known to be essential for adequate myocardial revascularization. The importance of individual expertise and skills for the improvement of the results of surgical treatment of coronary patients is emphasized. Average myocardial revascularization was 3-3.8 shunts per patient. Intraoperative myocardial infarction (5.2-3.9%) and hospital mortality (4.3%) rates have decreased. Seven year survival rate is 97.4% for cases of damaged left coronary arterial trunk and 88.4% for multiple aortocoronary shunts.