ABSTRACT
In recent years coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] has been extended to include patients with very low left ventricular ejection fractions [LVFF], also frequently with coexisting mild to moderate mitral valve regurgitation [MR]. The question is, should MR be corrected simultaneously with a myocardial revascularization or not? Between January 1990 and December 1996, 82 patients with preoperative LVEF /= 70%, and angina. Mortality and morbidity are low. Moderate to severe coexisting MR [Grade Il-Ill] seems to normalize after the myocardial revascularization and should therefore not be surgically corrected at the primary operation, if there are no echocardiographic evidence of chordal or papillary muscle rupture. Peroperative control echocardiography is recommended