The risk of coronary bypass surgery for patients with postinfarction angina

Three hundred consecutive patients who developed unstable postinfarction angina requiring isolated coronary artery bypass from 1982 through 1987 were analyzed. Hospital mortality was 5%; 15 (5.5%) additional late deaths occurred during the 69-month follow-up period (mean follow-up, 23.3 months). Significant independent predictors of perioperative mortality by univariate analysis were ejection fraction (p = 0.004); existence of an anterior, transmural infarction (p = 0.0001); and the requirement for preoperative intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (p = 0.001). By multivariate analysis, only the occurrence of an anterior, transmural infarction (p = 0.001) and the preoperative use of an intra-aortic balloon pump (p = 0.004) were significant independent predictors of mortality. Actuarial survival in this group ranged from 96 ± 1% at 1 year to 88 ± 4% at 5 years.