ABSTRACT
Coronary artery bypass surgery is the most common cardiac surgical procedure in the United States. The invasion of the chest would, at first glance, seem to be a profoundly compromising factor for rapid postoperative recovery, particularly for those with preex isting lung disease. Vital capacity and functional residual capacity have been reported as depressed 4 months after surgery, presumptively due to altered chest mechanics. However, the anesthetic, median sternotomy, graft harvesting, and graft implantation aspects of the procedure have been sufficiently refined to yield overall mortality rates of 1-4%. Patient subgroups with higher overall mortality include those of advanced age, pulmonary disease, and other comorbidities.
