Re: Treatment options

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on December 04, 1998 at 08:37:14:

In Reply to: Treatment options posted by nicky on December 03, 1998 at 19:30:45:






My question is About laser angioplasty.... my grandfather is 75 y.o male
with 40% and 70% blockage in his arties and damage to mitral valve due
to rheumatic fever.... my question is due to high age/risk factor with
open heart surgery... would laser angioplasty be a safe treatment
to help the condition? if not what would be the best treatment possible?
Dear Nicky
Lasers can be used during angioplasty for certain types of blockages; I am not sure that your grandfather needs this procedure in the first place. Regular angioplasty could be used to treat the more serious blockage in his arteries. The real question is how to fix the valve. A balloon valvuloplasty (similar to an angioplasty) can be used to treat some cases of a tight mitral valve. If the valve is also leaky, surgery is the only option to fix the valve.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.  Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
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.