8 or 9 bypasses

[rainybaba]

My dad who is a 67 year old smoker went into the hospital yesterday to have a stent put in.  He had one put in 2002.  His regular dr was not able to do the surgery because an emergency came in so his associate was to do it, only when they tried to do the procedure they found 9 clogged arteries, 3 100%, 1- 70%, 2 - 80%, 3 - 80-90%.  He did not stent he told us he would need 7 or 8 bypasses. My question is I never heard of this many bypasses is it done at one and what is his risk?  They sent him home after 6 hours and told him the surgeon would contact him in a day or two.  Is this ok or is he a walking time bomb?

[kenkeith]

Four years ago, I was told I had a 100% blockage of the LAD, RCA was 98% blocked, and icx was 72% blocked.  The RCA was stented at the time and the other arteries...no action.

I do quite well with medication, but to answer your question (walking timebomb) that may or may not be life threatening.  There have been medical studies that show one's life span is not increased with a by pass or stents when compared to medication.  Usually, interventional procedure is done to relieve pain. According to AHA/ACC guidance for intervention is to not do any procedure for blockage less than 70%.

My 100% blocked LAD has developed a natural by-pass, but 3, 100% blockage sounds untrue or there is some misunderstanding.  If one has a blockage, how does the other or others become blocked?  There shouldn't be any blood flow after the block, and how would a cath diagnose a block after a block that can't be penetrated?

There is limit on how many artery grafts that can be harvested.  My brother-in-law has had two events of by-passes surgery and has been told there are no arteries left to harvest for another by-pass!

I would get another opinion before any surgery,  Your father should stop smoking!