Heart by-pass

I am scheduled to undergo a heart by-pass surgery next week. I read that grafts using mammary arteries are more viable for longevity compared to veins from the thighs. Can i request from my surgeon to use mammary arteries for my grafts? and if so, what are the advantages of using thigh veins? If it is not expected to last as long as a mammary artery, then why do they still consider using it?


This discussion is related to heart bypass patient longevity.

[ed34]

They can use the left mammary artery Lima or the right Rima. Yes they do last much much longer, they should last all your natural life. Veins do not usually last as long but the time span differs in people. Mine were healthy veins but lasted only 3 months. Other
people I know have lasted 10 years so far.
Why do they use veins?  good question. They have 2 arteries available, so what if you need a triple bypass?
I wish you every success with your procedure and I'm sure everything will be just fine.

[EchoTech]

They actually use the mammary arteries as surrogate coronary arteries in some cases (like when there is a blockage at the beginning of the coronary artery)  with the leg veins acting as jumpers to bypass areas of blockage.

[tabilong]

based on my angiogram, there is a big possibility of a quadruple by-pass. In this case I can't expect to have them all on mammary arteries since they can only accommodate 2. I am still 44 years ol, never smoked and exercise every day. I don't also have a very fatty diet being a Filipino  I was told my genes just got the best of me. Heart decease is very prevalent on my mother's side of the family.

[RadioAstronomyObserver]

I have to jump in here and ask a question...  What is meant by Lasting longer..."?  What happens at the end of this time? or are you talking about something else? I don't understand..