One hundred patients undergoing elective coronary artery surgery were studied to determine the incidence of pre-bypass myocardial ischaemia. Leads II, aVF and V5 of the electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded at five-minute intervals from arrival in the anaesthetic room until onset of cardiopulmonary bypass. Thirteen patients developed sixteen episodes of significant ST depression on the ECG during the study period. Three patients were diagnosed as having postoperative myocardial infarction by ECG criteria and creatine phosphokinase-MB rise above 80 units. None of these patients had pre-bypass ST depression. Comparisons of these results with similar studies are presented.
