[Death rate on a heart surgery waiting list]. / Tod auf der herzchirurgischen Warteliste.

ABSTRACT

Of 2398 patients on a waiting list for aorto-coronary bypass operation 42 (1.8%) died before operation during an average waiting time of four months. Comparing the diagnostic data of those who died on the waiting list and those after operation, there was an increased frequency of indicators to further progression of the coronary heart disease (angina at rest, three-vessel disease, main stem stenosis, left ventricular contraction abnormalities) in the group of those patients who had died on the waiting list. The significance of these various indicators was further high-lighted in their prognostic significance when taking into account different waiting periods of the various sub-groups.