Main Article Content

The Role of surgical revascularisation in the treatment of ischaemic heart disease


CN Barnard

Abstract

After the initial reports on aorta-to-coronary artery bypass grafting, the evolution of this procedure has witnessed a number of medical criticisms and surgical appraisals. These include reports of late histological changes in the saphenous vein graft and the unacceptability of the procedure as a definitive method of therapy for patients suffering from ischaemic heart disease. This review indicates that revascularisation of the myocardium in patients suffering from intractable angina results in symptomatic relief in a high percentage of patients, and that it provides protection against subsequent complications.

S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 1933 (1974).

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574