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Angioplasty

My father is 79 years old, he is heart patient plus high blood pressure, He is having regular medicine for 7 years.He had angioplasty about 5 years back. The pain was gone before but now a days he is having strokes almost everyday and doctor recommended to do angioplasty again. My question is
1. Is it good to do angioplasty again for the 79yrs old man. moreover he had side effect of knee pain problem & constipation problem from the regular medicine &  angioplasty??
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976897 tn?1379167602
I would certainly go ahead with the angioplasty because they can do what is known as a flush, they can look at the major arteries in the body including the neck. Something is causing the clots which are making him suffer TIA's. This is usually a sign that a big stroke is on the way and shouldn't be ignored. My Mother in law is on Warfarin for the same problem as they know her neck arteries are the cause. I assume he is on Aspirin every day?
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your response. After having regular minor(I think it was minor as I do have little knowledge about medical terminology) strokes we admitted him in hospital. He was there for a week and his pain is gone now. However doctor did not recommend to do anything major treatment.
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Avatar universal
Many thanks for your response. Could you please elaborate more on to change in medication. if you wish, I can provide you name of medicine he has been using.
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976897 tn?1379167602
Are you using the right terminology? is he really having strokes every day? A stroke is when blood supply is cut off the part of the brain, and if this is happening every day then I would suspect he would be in a coma by now, or dead. Do you mean mini strokes (TIA) ? where the clot disperses before any permanent damage occurs. This may not be originating in the heart at all, it could be from basically anywhere, including the carotid arteries in the neck. I would think it more prudent to have a full body ct angio first, and follow up with angioplasty in the right area of the body. Isn't he on warfarin or anything?
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950760 tn?1316697651
Having suffered 3 heart attacks, and had bypass surgery, I can tell you that angioplasty is by far a better alternative to bypass.  I do not believe that angioplasty can be directly related to the side effects that you report, however, the medication certainly can.  I am well aware of the side effects of constipation which can be attributed to quite a few medications used for heart disease or thinning of the blood. Likewise there is a known link between certain types of statins and pain in the joints.  May I suggest talking to your fathers Doctor as in mst cases a change in medication maybe all that is required to relieve the side effects.  As for the angioplasty itself, whilst there are risks as there are with all types of similar procedures, the alternative is not really an option ie greater narrowing of the blood vessels etc.
I hope this helps
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