Acute spasm of vein bypass graft and recipient artery in the immediate postoperative period.

This is a report of an unusual condition in a patient with simultaneous spasms of a vein graft and recipient artery, resulting in acute left ventricular failure in the immediate postoperative period. It is known that coronary artery spasm can complicate perioperative management of the cardiac surgical patient, and spasm of vein bypass grafts themselves can also occur in rare instances. Possible causes of the complication and successful management of this patient are discussed.