Bypass good for 3 months???

In Oct.2007 my 66 yr old, non smoking husband had 5 bypasses and an aortic valve replacement.  Approx. 2 1/2 after surgery his cardiologist had him undergo a series of tests on his heart.  At about the same time he began to have chest pain when walking which has become more servere.  He also has pain when he becomes nervous or anxious which he never had before the surgery.  On our follow up visit his Dr told him the tests shows a portion of his heart where there are 3 bypasses is not getting enough blood.  Although we realized his recovery was going backwards we were shocked.  Teh doctor feels plague is the cause of the problem.  My husband resisted his suggestion of doing a cath, so he was given a prescription for Tricor 145mg.  The doctor drew a diagram of the procedure that was used and in the area where there is apparently blockage a T was used to do 2 bypasses.  The cardiologist seemed concerned that a stent may be difficult or impossible to place there.  My questions are: 1: How can blockage occur so soon after surgery and should we expect more of the same in the near future? 2:  Do we have unrealistic hopes from the Tricor? 3:  Why would a technique (a T) be used which would make repair difficult or impossible?

[jim62]

1.  I had problems with 2 vein grafts about 3 months post bypass.  They put stents in them.  The blockage seemed to de due to a scar tissue issue rather than a plaque buildup.  No problems since then (2003).

2.  I'd say the Tricor is a feeble attempt at pacifying you.  As far as I know, it has never been shown to lessen a blockage in an artery.  I don't think any drug has, for that matter.

3.  Hard to say.  I think that all bypass grafts originate with a T of sorts.  He might be overstating the problem a little bit.  They had no problem getting into mine with the stents.  At least, none that I heard about.

4.  It may be worthwhile to get a second (or third) opinion of the situation.  What's impossible for one interventionist may be a walk in the park for another.