Avoiding surgery

Hello there my father in law had a massive heart attack and they said they would probably do open heart surgery his heart has three blocked arteries and now the doc wants to put in a defibrillator pacemaker trying to understand why they wouldn't do open heart surgery

[Jerry_NJ]

I don't understand your question, but:
1)  I believe bypass surgery (to replace blocked arteries) is not considered "open heart surgery".
2) I believe a defibrillator and pacemaker do not require open heart surgery.

Why do you want open heart surgery?

[itdood]

The ICD/pacer and bypass surgery (for the blocked arteries) are completely different procedures.

The damage from the MI probably did enough damage that his heart is experiencing dangerous rhythms. The ICD/pacer is needed in case he needs a shock for the rhythm issues.  

The bypass surgery is completely different.  

are you saying they have now decided against the bypass and instead are now just doing the ICD/pacer?  That's a question best posed to his doctor.