Fate of Left Ventricular Contraction following Aortocoronary Venous Grafts

Abstract

Changes in left ventriclar contraction were studied approximately two weeks and one year after surgery in 87 patients having 131 venous grafts. Nineteen out of 37 or 51% of the ventricular wall motion defects revascularized by patent and intact grafts were improved following surgery. Hypokinesis was improved in 17 out of 24 instances (70%) and a normal contraction was restored in nearly half of the cases. Akinesis was improved in two out of 13 instances (15%). Following inadequate venous grafts, 15 out of 35 or 42% of the normal wall segments and four out of 16 or 25% of the hypokinetic wall segments were worse after surgery and late akinesis was frequent. Aortocoronary bypass surgery is followed by significant improvement as well as deterioration of left ventricular contraction and function. The late result of surgery is determined by the fate of aortocoronary venous grafts.