Early Mortality Rates According to Number of Vessels Grafted

THE THERAPEUTIC VALUE of coronary arterial bypass grafting is suggested by many favorable reports which stress particularly the relief of angina pectoris.' However, definitive statements regarding the effectiveness of this procedure in improving myocardial function, preventing myocardial necrosis and death from myocardial disease, and in producing permanent (or sustained) relief of angina are not possible at present, in our opinion. In this presentation, we shall review our own experience with coronary arterial bypass grafting procedures in 548 patients against the background of information available from other centers, and from our own experience with patients treated medically.