TRENDS IN CARDIOVASCULAR-SURGERY (1961 TO 1977) - REVIEW OF NEW-YORK-CITY AND STATE EXPERIENCE

Statistical data on surgery for congenital and acquired heart disease in New York City in the 17 years from 1961 through 1977 and in New York State in 1977 document trends in volume and types of operations. The ratio of open heart surgery for congenital versus acquired heart disease of 2:1 in 1961 was reversed to 1:6 by 1977 as the number of procedures for valvular and coronary heart disease increased. The case load for surgery for congenital heart disease using the open heart technique gradually increased until 1974 and then decreased. The number of closed heart operations was relatively constant. Observations suggest a finite number of open and closed heart operations for congenital cardiac malformations; the total of 1,381 cardiac operations in New York State in 1977 may continue to diminish if the decreasing birth rate persists. The number of operations for valvular heart disease has stabilized, but the number of operations for coronary artery disease has increased 7-fold since 1970. In 1977, coronary arterial bypass grafting in New York State accounted for 63 percent of operations for acquired heart disease (6,407) and the mortality rate was less than 3 percent. © 1979.