HEART DISEASE EXPERT FORUM
85 years old patient's bypass blocked 3 months after the surgery

85 years old patient's bypass blocked 3 months after the surgery

Dear Doctor,
My Grandmother had a quadruple bypass surgery 3 months ago. She is 85 years old, doctors warned us about the risks but also told us that a surgery is our best option since she is not overweight, generally in good health, never had a heart attack and is not a smoker. They used veins from her leg since the grafts in her chest wall were not in good shape either . She recovered fast, and started continuing her life as usual. However, 2 weeks ago, she started feeling shortness of breath. She went through an angiogram just recently, and doctors found out that only 1 of bypasses remained unblocked.  
Currently she gets tired very easliy, even when eating. She can not sleep well at nights.
I want to find out if an angioplasty (baloon or laser) or another surgery would be an option for her. My main concern is due to her age. Since the blockage happened recently - within 3 months - is there a chance that it can be removed by angioplasty, or would the bypass grafts be too fragile right now. How do you find the age factor effecting this? What is the general procedure followed for as such patients? Do we have any other options?
Thank you sincerely for your time, help and opinions.
Related Discussions
Avatar_n_tn
Dear Hande,

Unfortunately there are not many options for blocked bypass grafts.  It is sometimes possible to pass a wire down the graft to open it back but this is not usually successful. Her other options would be continued medical therapy, attempted angioplasty of the native coronary arteries or repeat bypass surgery.  Her age is a factor but not the only consideration. Which choice to make would depend on ischemic load (how severe the lack of blood flow to the heart), symptoms and her wishes.
2 Comments
Blank
Avatar_n_tn
My grandpa has recently had the same situation. He is in his late 70's and just recently had a massive heart attack to the side of his heart. The doctors said it was also congestive heart failure. He had a double bypass years ago, and now both are clogged. The doctors say theres nothing they can do, but I think they should be able to try to unclog them somehow, instead of just leaving him to suffer. He can barely breath. He gets out of breath from just rolling over in bed. Hes been falling asleep while talking lately. Its really scary to me, I wish there was something they could do for him!!
Blank
Avatar_n_tn
Blank
Avatar_n_tn
A related discussion, heart bypass was started.
Blank
Avatar_f_tn
A related discussion, life span of grafts was started.
Blank
Continue discussion Blank
Go
Request an Appointment
MedHelp Health Answers
Submit
Blank
Weight Tracker
Reach your weight goal faster
Start Tracking Now
RSS Expert Activity
1741471_tn?1336957856
Blank
LIVE WEBINAR TOMORROW!-SUPER BODY, ... Blank
May 22 by Michael Gonzalez-WallaceBlank
2126606_tn?1335910182
Blank
Fibromyalgia Awareness
May 11 by Clare Waismann Kavin, RASBlank
2126606_tn?1335910182
Blank
Opioid-induced hyperalgesia reduces...
May 03 by Clare Waismann Kavin, RASBlank