10-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF PATIENTS REFERRED FOR CORONARY-ARTERY BYPASS-GRAFTING FROM A SINGLE DISTRICT GENERAL-HOSPITAL

Objective-To determine the status of patients 10 years after referral for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Design-Retrospective analysis of case notes from all patients referred between 1 April 1981 and 31 March 1985. Full information gathered from hospital notes, GP records, and Registrar General for Scotland. Setting-District General Hospital, West Lothian,Scotland. Patients-102 patients referred for CA BG during study period. Cardiac surgery was undertaken in Brompton Hos pital, London, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, and Western Infirmary, Glas gow. Results-At 10 years after operation 32 patients had died (27 card iac, five noncardiac causes). Full data were not available for five pa tients. Of the 65 remaining patients 24 had no angina, 13 had had a re peat procedure (CABG or angioplasty), and 28 had angina. Conclusions-L ong term benefits of CABG surgery is disappointing. Further steps are required to reduce progression of disease in this population.