ArticleRoss RS.
Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc. 1980;91:1-15.
Coronary bypass surgery is highly effective in relieving angina pectoris. Early results of several well controlled studies show a small, but definite positive effect of surgery on life expectancy. The effect on prognosis is greatest in patients with the most severe arterial and myocardial disease. The discrepancy between the large effect on symptoms and the small effect on survival is best explained by postulating more than one mechanism of action for the operation.