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Heart Disease  (Expert Forum)
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Re: By Pass Surgery (Heartport)
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.

Re: By Pass Surgery (Heartport)

by Ruth__0__0, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By Ruth on January 03, 1999 at 21:15:58:

In Reply to: By Pass Surgery (Heartport) posted by Ruth on January 03, 1999 at 21:01:50:






: I had a quad by pass heartport surgery in May.  I just found out none of the by passes are working.  Any answers or solutions to this serious problem.  Last week I had angioplasty and had 2 stints put in my main artery which was 95% blocked.  I still have 3 others not working.  Doesn't sound too promising, does it?



  
Dear Ruth, thank you for your question.  I'm sorry to hear that your bypass grafts are blocked, but it's difficult for me to make recommendations for you without knowing more of your medical history.  The angioplasty and stents to the left main artery should help to restore blood flow to areas supplied by some of the blocked bypass grafts.  Depending on how you do after this procedure, you may need another bypass surgery to re-bypass the areas supplied by blocked bypass grafts or you may do fine with medications.  Our surgeons at the Cleveland Clinic are experts at redo bypass surgery, so you may want to consider coming to Cleveland for an evaluation if redo bypass surgery is an option.
If you would like to do so, then please call the number listed below.   Otherwise, I suggest that you speak with your cardiologist regarding further options.  
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.   The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
Thank you for your concern and advice.  You mentioned that I could have a redo by pass.  Is it not possible to put stents in the others that are not working?  I have never totally gotten over the last bypass surgery.  I have had shortness of breath and pain deep in my upper left chest ever since.  I never had shortness of breath before surgery.  I went for another opinion because they kept saying I was OK but the new cardiologist found they weren't working.  He said one is 100% blocked, and one is closing where it was sewn on.
Have you heard of other problems such as mine with the heartport surgery?  What chances would I have the next time of by passes not working if I chose to have surgery.  I'm 50 years old and I can't even walk at a normal pace.  I am able to continue working though as a secretary.
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