is angioplasty a success at an age of 78

[sanket444]

my grand mother suffered a silent heart attack on 27th jan 2011...she was admitted in icu n discharged in 7 days....echo cardiography then stated

1) Ischaemic heart disease.
2) Impaired LV function. LVEF: 40%.
3) RWMA ( Whole inferior wall, basal anterior wall and moderate hypokinetic with preserved thickness. )
4) Grade I LV diastolic dysfunction.


On 17th Feb 2011, she had symptoms of severe breathlessness and palpatation and addmitted to same hospital....
her blood pressure was 230/130. The second echo cardiography now stated..

1) Ischaemic heart disease.
2) Impaired LV function. LVEF: 35%.
3) Grade I LV diastolic dysfunction.
4) Mild MR.

Her genral codition is now stable and doctor has now advice for angiography, kindly suggest whether we should go for angiography and depending upon result of it we should go for further process ( such as angioplasty and ByPass ) as my grand mother age is 78. Please suggest.

[ed34]

Without the angiography report, there is no way you can determine whether the best solution would be stent or bypass. The blockage/s may be too numerous for stenting, or the blockage/s may be in a very risky location or be too long, or even on a curve or junction of another artery. Risk factors will all be evaluated by cardiologists once the images are available. Sometimes, when signing the consent form, they may ask you to sign and give permission to insert a stent if the job looks very straight forward and is believed will give immediate benefits to save a second procedure. Usual protocol though is, if the blockage looks risky, the options will be discussed for intervention at a later date.

[kenkeith]

Q: ) RWMA ( Whole inferior wall, basal anterior wall and moderate hypokinetic with preserved thickness."

>>>>>If angioplasty is to be a success, the hypokinetic (heart wall movement impairment) should be the goal.  The impairment is due to ischemia (lack of blood flow)according to the report, and that condition can reduce the heart's contractility.  

Angioplasty may be a the right solution and then be on medciation to prevent or slow any further progression of ischemia. Seven years ago, I was in more serious condition.  My ischemic condition caused heart failure without any symptoms prior such as chest pains. My first symtoms related to heart failure...lung congestion, coughing, shortness of breath, etc.

Hope this helps, a stent implant is not a very risky event so that should not be of any concern. I wish your grand mother well going forward, and thanks for sharing.  Take care,

Ken.