Time between MI and bypass surgery?

[DWK]

My husband had an MI 5 days ago. He needs a quintuple bypass; his cardiologist says do it 2 weeks after the heart attack(MI), and the surgeon says wait 3-4 weeks aftet the heart attack(MI). What should we do? 45% of his heart was damaged in the attck, his cholesterol is 313, and his bp is averaging 130/95. His main middle artery is blocked 90%, one of the other main arteries is 100% blocked, the third main artery is blocked 50%, and the subsequent two arteries stemming from the third main artery are blocked 99% and 70% repectively. Plus, they are sending him home today so he's going to be home while waiting for the surgery which scares the heck out of me. What should we do?

[kenkeith]

It is highly recommended to immediately chew up a high dosage of aspirin if a heart attack is suspected.  I hope and pray for the best outcome with your husband's condition.

[DWK]

He does not have an enlarged heart and is functioning on 12% capacity. The only reason he survivied his MI is because he got the clot dissolvent on time and was otherwise healthy. Anyway, my question was solved yesterday; he had been discharged to wait out the period for his bypass but had two episodes where he couldn't breath and had to put that pill under his tongue and then I took him to the hospital. They are going to do his quintuple bypass in the morning. They said his echo was OK so he's going into it strong so now we can just pray.

[kenkeith]

DWK

There is a risk for open heart surgery if the heart is enlarged and the ejection fraction is below normal.  The 45% represents the ejection fraction (EF) and the amount of blood pumped into circulation with each heartbeat....below 50% runs a higher risk for open heart surgery.  Frankly, 45% is not a very serious impairment of heart muscle...below 30% can cause symptoms of heart failure. People with 45% function quite well.  You may want to get another opinion before risking open heart surgery.

Undoubledy, the total blocked arteries have developed collateral vessels that provide the deficit area.  Blockage less than 70% does not require intervention according to the AAC/AHA guidelines unless there is uncontrolled angina (chest pain, etc.)

I have known for the past 5 years that I have a totally blocked LAD and 72% blocked circumflex.  Medication provides relief from any symptoms, and I don't intend to have any surgery.  

[Donna552]

What reason did the docs give for wanting to wait?  Does he have other compromising conditions?