quadruple bypass for 80 years old

[dede08]

What are the  major risks for a patient 80 years old that in need of a quadruple bypass surgery. What is the prognosis and life expectancy after surgery. My grandfather needs one but he does not want to have a surgery. He is really afraid and believes he will die during the operation.
Thank you

[Barbarella]

I'm so glad your father in law came out o.k.  We wish we would've found out exactly what happened why she lost her memory, but the doctors didn't know, and since my mother in law had to sign papers and even one of her kids also had to sign before the surgery that there are risks associated with a bypass surgery there isn't much we could do.

The family was in a tough position.  The Cardiologist said she could have a massive heart attack any minute (before she had the bypass) or never have one,  it all depends how much longer she'd live without the surgery since she was already 80 yrs.  She didn't want the bypass, she was very scared, but the doctors and the family urged her to have it.  Had we all known of the outcome I don't think we would have urged her to have the bypass.

dede08

What happened to my mother in law was in the early 90's, they made progress since then, and what happened to my mother in law doesn't mean it will happen to your grandpa too.

[Momto3]

My father in law had a quadruple bypass at 80 also.  He had a much different outcome than Barbarella's MIL.  (Barbarella, I'm so sorry to hear about your MIL's post surgical response.)  He did stay in the hospital a couple of extra days, but I can't remember exactly why.  The surgery went great and he lived a great life for another 9 years.  I don't think he ever regretted having the CABG surgery, but turned away when one of the doctors mentioned "valve surgery" last year.  

Maybe someone could go with your grandfather to his doctor appointment.  The designated person could ask questions and get a sense from the doctor of how your GF will do (if he decides on surgery).  

[Barbarella]

My mother in law had a quadruple bypass at age 80.  It took a long time to get her out of the anesthesia, she just wouldn't come out of it.  Once she finally came out of it she was not the same person anymore.  For the next 6 yrs until she died, she did not remember the past, did not remember her relatives, barely remembered her kids, could not talk well,  whatever she said didn't make any sense.  One surgeon said it was the anesthesia which effected her brain, another surgeon said she could've had a stroke while she had the bypass surgery.  We never really found out what happened to her.  Before the surgery she was alert, talked well, knew everybody, had all her facilities, could take care of herself etc., and after the surgery she was in diapers and a total different person for the next 6 yrs until she died.

But then there are other people in that age group getting bypasses who come out fine.