Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with an ejection fraction of twenty percent or less

Over a 7-year period, 5.8% ( n = 210) of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting at our institution had severely impaired global left ventricular function with an ejection fraction of 20% or less. Mean age at operation was 66 years (±0.7; standard error), and 76% of patients were male. Primary indications for operation were unstable angina (73 patients, 35%), return of symptoms with previous bypass grafting (41 patients, 20%), congestive heart failure with reversible ischemia (55 patients, 26%), and recurrent ventricular arrhythmias (41 patients, 20%). Overall, actuarial survival ( n = 210) was 82%, 79%, and 73% at 1, 2, and 5 years. Risk of death was highest early after the operation, and then declined rapidly to a constant level. Patients who did not receive retrograde coronary sinus cardioplegia ( p = 0.05), older patients ( p = 0.004), and those with preoperative ventricular arrhythmias ( p = 0.003) or renal failure ( p < 0.0001) had an increased risk of death early after operation. Patients with congestive symptoms and those requiring extensive or redo bypass grafting ( p = 0.02) were found to be at an increased risk of death throughout the follow-up period. When the number of distal anastomoses performed increased, survival was found to decrease ( p < 0.003), and to a greater extent in women than in men ( p = 0.02). Of the four primary indications for operation, unstable angina yielded the highest risk-adjusted survival. Successful results after surgical revascularization in patients with severe impairment of ventricular function can be achieved by careful patient selection and management. (J T HORAC C ARDIOVASC S URG 1996;111:1001-12)