risks of stent to left circumflex artery

[edjewels]

facing a catheter procedure to repair stenosis in left circumflex artery near main. how dangerous is this


This discussion is related to Cardiac Catheterization.

[edjewels]

Thanks for your postings in response to my questions. I had on cath proceedure last Monday to repair a, somewhat large , blockage in the mid part of the LAD.
Two DES stents, one behind the other. were implanted. I am feeling at least a 40% improvement in my breathing and stamina, etc since the procedure. I had no post op discumfort or other complications. This comming Tuesday it is back to the Cath Lab for another cath procedure to  repair to the Left circumflex . This blockage is close tho the intersection of the main.
My doctor has talked with me about the difficulty of this procedure and , as I said in my posting to you and ed34 both he and I are very confident in having a positive outcome. He told me that, after  much consultation and study, he has come up with " an excellent plan" for doing this "tricky" repair.

I appreciate your imput and respect your experience and knowledge. I'll  keep posting and update you after the procedure on  Tues.
Wish me luck,

[kenkeith]

Ooops!  Different question.  If you read your other post you can get a perspective on the complications of stenting obstructions in a bifurcated junction. To stent one lesion remodels both stented vessel and the other subject branch vessel of the bifurcation and can reduce blood flow in the vessel that is not stented...and to attempt to stent that vessel can cause a problem with both vessels. I believe you have lesions in both the LAD and circumflex if I remember correctly from your other post.

Your current question refers to just the circumflex, and that presents no additional problem than any other stent implant. Trying to stent both branches off the main can possibly perforate or rupture the vessel. One vessel stent with the other branched vessel open should not present any problem unless the stented vessel is so large that it compresses the other vessel when stented. I wouldn't put any probability parameter to the procedure, and I doubt if there are any compilation of such data.  A cardiologist can estimate the probability on an individual basis, and his or her skills are taken into consideration.

Thanks for the interesting questions.    .  

[ed34]

To know this, you would have to at least know certain variables to add into your calculations. One being the experience of your cardiologist doing the procedure. Obviously, the greater the experience, the lower the risk. Blockage size, location and consistency are all factors too.
As an example, I went to one well known heart hospital in the UK and the best cardiologist there put the risk of my stenting as 1in4, chance of death. The world known research college in London where I had the procedure put the risk at 5%, a 1 in 20 chance of death.

[kenkeith]

Please do not double post. To have two posts going at the same time can present some confusion.  If you have any further questions you can resond on your other post thea Ed and I have answered.  Thanks