Is Open Heart surgery my only option?

[pks100]

Within the last month (March 2009), my life has changed dramatically. I have lost my job and have also been diagonsed with CAD. My angiogram showed a LV Grade > 60% , Mitral Regurgitatin to be normal. The blockages were : ... [More]
30% RCA, 30% LCA, 100% IM , (Which the doctors say is on the LCX but the report shows on the IM, 80% on the LAD,  70% on the AV and 80% on the P1V.

At this the doctors have recommended by pass surgery, scheduled for early May.

I am very concern and scared of open heart surgery. Is open heart surgery my only choice

[kenkeith]

Quote Enceph: "Stents are more like band-aids in which they help and extend life, but don't necessary fix the problem".  THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE.  See experts opinion forum and google COURAGE study.  Medication, stents and bypass treat the symptoms and does not "safeguard" life (safequard and  save is the distinction in context). Please!

Sticky Process?!  If it is meant to prevent platelet formation ...aspirin is off label medication to help prevent occlusions.

Sticky spot?!   Certain sections of our arteries are subject to thickening and the formation of what is called fatty streaks for reasons that have to do with flow dynamics, that is, the velocity of blood flow and turbulence in that particular artery.  A vulnerable location for turbulance is where the LCX and LAD branch from the Left Main artery.  
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pks100

lm is the left main  artery, LCX is the circumflex branch artery, LAD is the left anterior descending branch, PLV is the posterior left ventricle branch and AV is the anteriorventricular nodal..  It is not usual to have some blockage and likely at the site where LAD and LCX branch of the Left Main due to developing turbulance of blood flow in that area.

The 30% are considered medically insignificate...AHA/AAC guidelines are not to treat with intervention blockages less than 70%.  There almost has to be an error to record 100% blockage of the Left Main as blood flows from LM into LCX and LAD and total blockage would be fatal unless there is a natural bypass with collateral vessels!?.

If a surgical bypass is recommended it may be a need to be rerouting of blood flow rather than a bridge to bypass occlusions?. You should get a clarification from a surgeon before and if you decide on an operation....100% blockage of LM!?

If medfiction successfully treats your symptoms, if you have any, it would/should be safe to treat with mediation.  

[Encephalomalcia]

Open heart surgery is scary, but I think the doctors are considering your age when making the decision of bypass versus stents.  Bypass surgery fixes the arteries, which may be crooked or turned.  Stents are more like band-aids in which they help and extend life, but don't necessary fix the problem.  When arteries are not straight enough, the blood rushing through can cause a spot that becomes inflammed and sticky.  The inflammed sticky spot is a perfect place for cholesterol to stick causing blockage.  Aspirin has been shown to bring down the inflammation in the arteries, therefore, helping the sticky part.  There is nothing that can be done with curved arteries other than bypass surgery, which would put arteries in the heart that are not curved or bent.  Bypass is a fix and if aspirin is taking daily the sticky part from inflammation can be decreased.  With that being said, there is risk with bypass surgery.  There is a 1 in 5 chance of not surviving the surgery.  Ask your doctor about the risks for you.  If all your organs and your blood sugar is normal, that would be a plus in your favor.  Try to out way the risk factors. Take some time in making your decision.  Bypass surgery should not be rushed into unless of course it is life threatening.  When the heart gets too plugged up, the kidneys start shutting down.  This is a big decision for you and your family.   Take care.