Ventricular arrhythmias in chronic stable angina pectoris with surgical or medical treatment

Abstract

Since both propranolol therapy and saphenous-vein bypass surgery have become accepted treatments for patients with symptomatic coronary-artery disease, it is important to determine if either influences the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias in these patients. Six-hour dynamic electrocardiography was done on 130 patients with chronic stable angina pectoris at least 1 year after being randomized to surgical or medical therapy. All surgical patients had saphenous-vein grafting; 90% of the medical patients received propranolol. Data analysis showed that even though the overall prevalence of premature ventricular contractions was no different in medical and surgical patients, the prevalence of complex premature ventricular contractions was significantly higher in surgically treated patients not receiving propranolol than in propranolol-treated medical patients (p less than 0.05). However, the survival rate was no different in either group, and the quality of life in the surgical patients remained superior.