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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Procedure
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Procedure
by Ron-S, Apr 19, 1998 12:00AM
Had 4 bypass in 1995. Recently had angioplasty (2 stents) back of heart, Febuary of this year and needed a third stent. The vessels formed a (T) and the third blockage was to close to the top of the (T) to turn the corner and place the third stent. If the blockage was further down the top of the desending tee they say they could have done it. The blockage at that point is 80 to 90%. Also one of the 1995 bypasses is blocked at the graft site. (100%). There are also 2 smaller blockages that they say are not causing a problem at other sites. My question, is there any new tools or procedures of the trade that could be used to turn the intersection at the (T) to open it or place a stent. Second,is there anything that can be done at the 1995 graft site with angioplasty and or stents.
Thank you for any information that can help me make any further decisions with regards to my heart condition.
Ron S.
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Dear Ron:
The first question is whether any blockage needs to be opened up. Just because it is there, that does not mean an angioplasty is necessary. If there are symptoms and/or an abnormal stress test, then perhaps it would be better to open it up. The second question is whether it can be opened up. It sounds like the blockage is near the part of a heart artery that branches out. This can be a difficult area to work on blockages with balloons or stents. Sometimes a rotational atherectomy (sort of a miniature spinning drill) can be used successfully on these types of blockages; not all interventional cardiologists do this procedure. As far as old vein grafts that are 100% blocked, they are extremely difficult to open; it can cause more harm than good to even try.
If you wish to be evaluated here at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with an interventional cardiologist at desk F25. Information provided in the Heart Forum is for general purposes only. Specific diagnoses and therapies can only be provided by your doctor.
