A second by-pass operation

[glworm]

I have been told that my by-pass grafts are blocked. Is it possible to have a second by-pass operation?

[Forum-M.D.-MJM]

Hello,
It most cases it is possible to have a redo CABG.  It depends on if you have available veins/arteries in your legs, arms or chest to use for the bypass grafts.  We are often doing three time redo's and sometimes even a fourth.
I hope this helps. Thanks for posting and good luck.

[Brothabill]

Yes, but most people who have that happen did not follow dietary and exercise recommendations to help extend their life. I.e. walking every single day, complete medicine management and having an impeccable diet.
If you have not completely turned your life over to following a cardiac diet, then a second bypass, for society, may not be warranted as far containing medical costs for the greater good.
Also if you smoke, then you should be prohibited from surgery as it is just a waste.
Hope that straightforward talk helps you or others who dont understand the importance of 'THEIR' role in disease prevention and progression

[save]

I am replying to you, because the person that sent you a message saying that you should do nothing if you are not eating right,etc.  That is not the way to help someone on this site.  If you need a second by pass, by all means get it.  Everyone deserves to have their live saved or made better.  He/she fails to realize that genes play a part in what happens.  I ate right, exercised, etc., and still had to have by pass.  Don't ever give up!  All of us fall by the way side at times.  I have never met a perfect person yet.

[rudybaby]

To Brothabill:

Your lack of knowledge on heart disease is absolutley amazing.  Please do comment on things you obviously know nothing about.  My husband at age 46 has done "everything" right, yet suffers greatly from this genetic disease.  Your comment is insulting.

[njean]

Gosh, I'm almost afraid of what you will tell me when I tell you what I'm going through!  Is society wasting their money on trying to save my life too?!  

Hello everyone -- I am a 56 yr. old female & I have undergone Open-Heart Surgery three times in my life.  The first two Open-Heart's took place in 1975 when I was 24 years old.  The surgeries were performed in Houston TX by the world renowned Dr. Denton Cooley.  I had the aortic & the mitral valve replaced with mechanical valves.  I had done wonderfully for 31 years up until last year, March/06 I had to go back to Houston & have the aortic valve replaced with another mechanical (St. Jude valve) because the old valve was failing & I was having CHF.  When they went in there last year, my artificial mitral valve appeared to be working okay so they decided to leave well enough alone & did not replace it.  Well, low & behold, a year later the mitral valve is showing failure & I have been told that I now need to have a 4th Open-Heart Surgery to replace it!  Needless to say, I am mortified because the doctors told me that it would be a very high-risk surgery due to the fact that I have a significant amount of scar tissue which could create a surgeon's nightmare!  I have declined the surgery for now & they increased my lasix (water pills) to 80 mg per day plus blood pressure meds (Altace) & of course the coumadin (warfarin) that I have been on all my life practically.  I have been advised that I cannot stay on the lasix therapy for too long because that could cause problems in the long-run too & that if I wait too long to have the surgery, I could be facing a worse scenario, heart/lung transplant!   I am not working;  I have worked for 20 years with my company & was told by the doctors that I have to try to live as "stress free of a life" as possible.  Can someone out there offer me some comforting advise or do you know of anyone that has faced anything as similar as my situation?  That is, everyone except Mr. Brothabill!  He probably will say that society is wasting their money on trying to save my life too!  (Obviously sir, you learned nothing of value after what you went through so please don't try to put people in need down.  We're already going through our own private "hell"; we certainly don't need you to add to it!)
God Bless!
njp

[Cliff S.]

I underwent four bypass surgeries in twenty years..After  three surgeries in nine years. It took eleven more years before needing my fourth surgery.  Based on how I feel, I am encouraged  my last surgery was the best.

Resonosis happens for a variety of reasons. We should never blame the patient! My family doctor told me I was the most disciplined patient he had with regard to diet and exercise. After my first surgery, I walked four miles daily, five times a week, for many years. When we had company with a delicious meal to tempt me, I would eat a salad and beam soup. After my third surgeries, I decided I was being stressed out by being too disciplined. I started eating a normal diet but continued to watch my portions. I hasten to add that, "One person's medicine is another patient's poison." So listen to your doctor and not to layman me.

By the way, I had my third surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.in January of 1994.