Role of coronary artery bypass surgery after intracoronary streptokinase infusion for myocardial infarction.

Intracoronary streptokinase infusion has been shown to improve left ventricular function and reduce hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Adjuvant coronary artery bypass surgery is of value in many of these patients who have recurrent angina, circulatory instability, severe coronary artery occlusive disease, or a high risk of reinfarction. There is little, if any, evidence that immediate coronary artery bypass surgery affects the results adversely--either because of recent myocardial infarction or recent streptokinase infusion, and early operation appears to be a safe and worthwhile modality of treatment in this group of patients with myocardial infarction.