We have reviewed 44 consecutive patients undergoing myocardial revascularization from 1 to 42 days after myocardial infarction. Operation within 12 days of transmural myocardial infarction carried a substantially high risk, particularly in patients with poor ventricular function. Patients with subendocardial infarction may be safely operated on shortly after infarction has occurred. In those with transmural infarcts, it may be advantageous to delay operation if early and aggressive medical therapy can effectively control the symptoms. This has to be counterbalanced, however, by the realization that the situation should not be allowed to slide into one of irreparable ventricular damage from infarct extension.