Long-term results of coronary artery bypass grafting.

Coronary artery bypass grafting has been an established procedure for more than 20 years. This article summarizes recently published information regarding the long-term results of coronary artery bypass grafting, including several analyses of large data bases that extend over periods of 15 to 20 years. Other research pertinent to the etiology of conduit occlusion and information regarding the management of patients with recurrent ischemia following coronary artery bypass grafting is discussed. The studies reviewed for the present article confirmed the beneficial effect of internal mammary artery grafting on long-term survival and defined the factors influencing long-term survival in patients with saphenous vein grafts. Other studies determined the effect of initiating aspirin postoperatively on graft patency, evaluated novel conduits for grafting, and elucidated the remodeling of saphenous vein that occurs over time in the arterial circulation.