Objective: to understand how repercussions of the referral and counter-referral of patients with indication/submitted to Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery in the context of Primary Health Care.
Method: qualitative research with a theoretical-methodological contribution anchored in the Grounded Theory. Theoretical sampling was performed with 41 participants, divided into three sample groups (patients, health professionals and managers) in the Metropolitan Region and Western Region of Santa Catarina State.
Results: the need for improvement in the process of recording clinical data in the regulation system emerged to strengthen patient referral; and the absence of a formal process of counter-referral and adaptation of lifestyle with repercussion in the counter-referral.
Final considerations: the repercussions of the referral and counter-referral of patients with indication/submitted to the CABGS in the context of Primary Care are experienced through professional guidance and, in particular, by family support.