I also have heard that the artery lasts longer as the bypass vessel than a vein does. If you don't get a satisfactory answer to that question, I believe that is one situation in which, yes, I would seriously consider postponing the surgery for a second opinion on the whole thing.
Make sure they use your Left Internal Mammary Artery (Lima) from your chest as a graft to your LAD if this vessel is clean. Being an artery, as opposed to using veins, it will last a heck of a lot longer and give better results. You want this surgery to last and I'm sure you don't want to go for another bypass in 10 years.
But wait, you've already scheduled surgery, so I don't want to throw a monkey wrench into your plans by suggesting a second opinion. If you're good to go, then great. Good luck, and let us hear from you when you're able.
A bypass operation is scary, but what happened to your parents is scary, too. Assuming your doctors are interpreting all the tests correctly, a bypass operation seems like it might be the only play you have with the cards you were dealt. It never hurts to get a second opinion, just to make sure that another cardiologist (or team) sees your test results the same way. You would not have to do all the tests over again, just provide the records for review. If the second opinion is the same as the first one, you have more peace of mind about your choice.
those (the odd EKG and the bad family history) were exactly what got the family physicians attention. with the silent ischema factor i have decided to have the bypass, sceduled for the middle of March. it was the "defective warning system" comment that finally made the difference. until that information i could never rationalize in my mind how i could work out so oftern and to such an intensity, have no symptoms but be that seriously blocked. now it starts to make sense and i really don't want to go the rest of my life wondering if every time i work out it was going to cause an attack without any warning.
There was an abnormal EKG, plus a very dramatic family history. I think those two things are what initially got the doctors' attention.