At the Heart Institute, we performed a study to evaluate if the internal thoracic artery modified the nosocomial mortality of elderly coronary patients (age 70 years), submitted to elective isolated revascularization of the myocardium. Clinical, hemodynamic, radiologic, operative and postoperative parameters were included in the protocol. In a prospective study one hundred consecutive patients, with complete observations were analysed. The statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's X² test. The results of this study showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the groups, the nosocomial mortality being higher in that in which autogenous saphenous vein grafts were used. The role of the surgeon as a screener regarding obtention of results is also discussed.
myocardial revascularisation