[Recurrent angina after coronary surgery. Results of reoperations for myocardial revascularization]

40 patients presented with invalidating angina after initial revascularisation surgery (44 operations). The relapse of angina was attributed to thrombosis or stenosis of the graft (33 p. 100), graft failure plus the presence of non-bypassed coronary lesions (progression of coronary artery disease or incomplete initial revascularisation) (52 p. 100) or to the presence alone of coronary lesions which had not been bypassed (15 p. 100). At reoperation 37 stenosed or thrombosed grafts were replaced or repaired and 36 new aortocoronary bypasses were implanted. The perioperative risk was comparable to that of the initial operation (4,5 p. 100 mortality, 13,6 p. 100 myocardial infarction). The long term clinical improvement (34 months) was however less satisfactory (30 p. 100 unimproved). Several factors may account for the relatively high failure rate: the incidence of incomplete revascularisation; perioperative myocardial infarction and, above all, rapid progression of the coronary artery disease. Reoperation for myocardial revascularisation should therefore be restricted to patients with severe angina despite medical therapy, in whom the angiographic appearances suggest that optimal revascularisation might be possible.