Direct Myocardial Revascularization with Saphenous Vein Autograft

Clinical data for the first 100 operations utilizing saphenous vein graft are presented. Eighty-seven percent of the patients were between 41 and 60 years of age, the youngest being 26 and the oldest 69. A combined simultaneous single internal mammary artery implantation and saphenous vein graft was done in 41 patients with no increase in the operative risk. The operative mortality rate was 5 percent. There were three late deaths. The most common complications were atrial fibrillation in 12 patients and myocardial infarction in seven. Fifty patients underwent postoperative cardiac catheterization. In 40, the graft was patent and the obstruction was totally relieved. Six patients showed significant narrowing, and in four the graft was closed. The grafts remained in good condition without dilatation over a year postoperatively.