This study consisted of a one year clinical follow-up of 81 patients who had coronary revascularization. In 32 patients, this was accomplished by bypass surgery and in 49, by percutaneous angioplasty. Prior to the procedure the two groups of patients were similar with regard to age, sex, antianginal medication and angina severity with 75% of the surgical patients and 65% of the angioplasty patients in CCS Angina Class III or IV. Although most of the surgical patients had multivessel disease and most of the angioplasty patients had single vessel disease, all had complete revascularization. At one year, 78% of the surgical patients and 84% of the angioplasty patients did not have angina and few patients in either group were taking medication. However, in the intervening year 39% of the angioplasty patients had had a second revascularization procedure, whereas, only 3% of the surgical patients required a second procedure. Extracardiac sequelae were more frequent in the surgical cohort. Therefore, at one year following complete revascularization, bypass surgery and angioplasty result in comparable symptomatic and functional improvement.