95% & 100% blocked arteries w/ stents

My ex, father of our daughter, had a heart attack in 2001 at the age of 28. Since then, he has had 4 heart catheterizations, angioplasties, and 3 stents put in. He's also taken about 4 to 5 medications over the past almost 9 years. He just was taken by ambulance yesterday to the hospital with chest pains. He had another heart cath. They said that one artery is 95% blocked and another is 100% blocked. These arteries both already have stents but the stents are blocked. They are supposedly only going to treat him with medication. I would ask more questions of the doctor but since I am the "ex", I haven't been to the hospital myself yet. My questions are: can they do an angioplasty on a blocked artery that already has a stent? Can they remove a stent and put a new stent in? Can this be controlled by medication only? When would they decide to do open heart surgery? Our daughter is only 8 years old. I am scared to death that something is going to happen to her daddy. Since I am the "ex" though, I am having a hard time finding out any information. What can be done? I talked to my ex from his hospital room. He said that everything was blocked and nothing could be done. I don't believe that nothing can be done. Something else has to be able to be done. Please, any information or advice would be most appreciated. Thank you.

[Flycaster305]

Is it possible that you could talk to your ex and he would agree that information could be released to you?  

Stents cannot be replaced.  Also, 100% blockages can't usually accept stents.  Bypass surgery is usually done in situations like this, why this isn't an option is indeed a good question.  Is your ex in good physical condition? Is diabetes an issue?  

When a heart artery occludes, small nearby arteries generally will enlarge in an effort to revitalize the stunned, or oxygen-starved heart cells.  This is accelerated with medication and exercise.  This may be the path the doctors are taking.  Some individuals have excellent luck, their collateral arteries grow large, and fast and take over for the blocked ones.

Hopefully you can reach an agreement with your ex where you can get more information.  There are brighter bulbs than me on this site and with more information, you will get excellent feedback.  Best wishes, keep us informed.

[ed34]

Well, I don't think nothing can be done, there is always the option of bypass surgery for one thing. It is also possible that the blockage can be removed and a new stent be placed inside the existing one, but these tend to block more quickly with many people. It depends really what the blockages are, what they consist of. If they are clots, then clot busting medication will dissolve them. If they are plaque then I should think the cardiologist will recommend a bypass.