Building Collaterals

Scar tissue closed off bypass grafts 2 months after surgery in 1990 (my body grows a lot of it, as evidenced by scar tissue from an old hernia surgery). They wanted to do another bypass,
although admitted the same thing could happen again. I chose
medication, a very strict 10% fat diet, 1500 mg of niacin daily, and exercise. That combination served me well for 8 years before angina began to return during exercise (fast walk or swimming). I took EECP
treatments, and almost all angina is gone again.  
QUESTION:  My collaterals must be enlarged, or new ones
formed, with the 35 "Counter Puslation" treatments. Other than those treatments and exercise, is there anything else that will assist in continued growth of collaterals, such as diet, medication, or ?????

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Dear Bill,

Other options include vitamin E 400 Iu and Vitamin C 500-1000 mg per day, folic acid and perhaps the addition of a statin if your LDL is above 90.

there is recent data to suggest that amlodipine may decrease angina via smooth muscle cell changes it induces.

We have protocols short of CABG for percutaneous myocardial revascularization with  injections of myocardial growth factors that may suit you.  



I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.

     Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own
     doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call
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     Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to
     address your cardiac problem.