Benefit of coronary artery surgery in patient's with poor left ventricular function

Myocardial revascularization in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy achieves beneficial results. Between January 1980 and December 1993 61 patients (ejection fraction <30%) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting in the University Hospital Erlangen. Age ranged from 36 to 75-years, 95% were in the NYHA functional class III or IV. We performed 1 redo, 2 emergency procedures and 1 additional thrombendarterctomy of the carotid artery. The 30 days mortality was 1.6%. The actuarial 5-years-survival-rate was 68.8%, following complete revascularization 77.1% respectively. 93% of the survivors were in the NYHA functional class I and II (the mean duration of follow up was 51.6 months). The clinical results of operative treatment are increased in comparison with a medicamentally treatment or angioplasty, operative mortality is similar to the mortality after PTCA or heart transplantation as well as the long term survival.