[The heart bridge. A follow-up study of cardiac patients from the health region 1 operated abroad during the period 1985-87].

During the years 1985 to 1987 a total number of 388 patients from the Norwegian health region 1 were transferred from Ullevål Hospital to heart centres abroad for heart operation because of the low operating capacity in our own hospital. The operative mortality in pure coronary bypass operations was 6.0%. Six out of 34 patients (17.6%) died postoperatively following valvular replacements. A questionnaire was sent to all survivors in November, 1989 and July, 1996. The clinical condition was judged to be very good or good by 95% and 83% of the patients, respectively. A self-evaluation of quality of life on a visual analog scale indicated a significant improvement after the operation.