The purpose of this paper was to review the data on use of cardiac procedures among blacks as reported in the recent published literature, as well as to draw on information about patients treated at Howard University Hospital, a historically black health care institution.

The authors conclude that, although there are limited data, the indications for surgery, preoperative findings, and outcomes seem to be similar for blacks as for the general population. Surgical mortality is attributable to the usual iatrogenic variables or comorbid disease. Finally, they state that it is uncertain whether the incidence of inoperable disease or problems of access to health care are responsible for the low rate of utilization by blacks.