Coronary bypass surgery in patients with decreased function of the left ventricle

: During 1988-1990, 21 patients with poor left ventricular function underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. The median number of previous infarctions was 1.6 (0-4). Three patients had no previous history of myocardial infarction. All patients had ischemic heart disease and significant stenoses or occlusion of the circumflex artery, the left anterior descendent artery and the right coronary artery. Preoperatively the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 23% (10-28) judged by echocardiography. The median number of peripheral anastomoses was 4.8 (2-7). The perioperative mortality was 9.5%. One year survival was 90%. Postoperatively the median LVEF increased to 35% (25-50). The working capacity increased in 70% of the patients. This study has shown that coronary arterial bypass surgery in patients with ischemic heart disease and poor left ventricular function may result in symptomatic and functional benefit.