[Reintervention for recurrent angina pectoris after aortocoronary bypass]

In this department between 1969 and 1980, 1116 angina patients underwent aorto-coronary venous bypass operation for revascularization of the myocardium. Thirty-four (3%) of these patients later underwent reoperation for anginal recurrence. Recurrence of angina was due principally to obstruction of an aorto-coronary venous bypass graft (48.6%) and progression of atheromatous disease in non-grafted coronary arteries. 9% of reoperated patients had a myocardial infarction postoperatively. Overall mortality was 6%. Quality of life must be considered excellent when it is observed that 87% of these patients enjoyed symptomatic improvement and as many as 63% were still asymptomatic following an average observation period of more than three years (38.7 months). On the basis of these encouraging results, all patients with recurrence of angina should undergo further coronary investigations with a view to reoperation.