Objective To determine the status of patients 10 years after referral for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Design Retrospective analysis of case notes from all patients referred between 1 April 1981 and 31 March 1985. Full information gathered from hospital notes, GP records, and Registrar General for Scotland.

Setting District General Hospital, West Lothian, Scotland.

Patients 102 patients referred for CABG during study period. Cardiac surgery was undertaken in Brompton Hospital, London, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, and Western Infirmary, Glasgow.

Results At 10 years after operation 32 patients had died (27 cardiac, five non-cardiac causes). Full data were not available for five patients. Of the 65 remaining patients 24 had no angina, 13 had had a repeat procedure (CABG or angioplasty), and 28 had angina.

Conclusions Long term benefits of CABG surgery is disappointing. Further steps are required to reduce progression of disease in this population.