heart surgery

[bipin1956]

Date : 09 Mar 2010

Dear Sir  :

I have critical question for my father.   We do not know that we might need heart surgery or not ?

My father is 80 years old and has high blood pressure since 1985. He continues to maintain BP by medicine.
His both kidney failed around 09/2008 and continued to perform dialysis 3 time / week.  He got massive heart attack 1 ½ month ago in evening sleeping time around 10 pm.  So, he has congested heart failure condition.  On 1 Mar 2010, he got short of breath and admitted to emergency hospital.  Doctor found that his aorta valve is not working 70 % and mitral valve has very bad condition so blood is leaking in both valves.

He never smoked and is lecto vegetarian.  His father died while he was 13 years old due to asthma.
Is it worthwhile to do 2 valves replacement surgery and 3 blood vessels by pass surgery ?
Do you have statistical data of survival for Asian Indian in USA having similar situation or condition ?

What are the advantage and dis advantages
(a) if we do not permit operation and
(b) if we permit surgery ?

I would appreciate if you reply ASAP to decide by 10 Mar 2010.

Thank you
Bipin Chauhan
Phone : [phone]

[Yvette BG]

Hi again--
I just realized I made a mistake in writing earlier. The doctors said my Dad had a 5-10% chance of dying during the surgery and a 5-10% chance of serious, life-changing complications like having a stroke or getting a serious infection. But still, that meant he had an 80-90% chance of getting through the surgery without trouble--which he did.  He will be 85 and he still goes out dancing!

Bye for now,
Yvette

[Yvette BG]

Hi--I know you're concerned about your father.

I do not know statistical data for the 2-valve replacement, etc. I know with my Dad's situation (just under 83 years old at the time, aortic valve replacement, 3 vessel bypass, aneursym repair--please see my earlier post, under "heart Disease" I think), they said the risk of death or bad outcome (like a stroke or serious infection), was about 10%--which meant that most people would survive the surgery without trouble.

On the other hand, since his valve problem was progressive, the chances of his living a life where he could do the things he wanted to do for 3 to 5-years if he did NOT have the surgery wasn't that great (estimated around 50%). So he decided to take his chances--it was a quality-of-life issue. He could barely walk 2 blocks before the surgery and almost couldn't go to the baseball game with us (we had 3rd row seats!)

It's a very tough decision. The statistics don't really matter if your loved one is the one that dies or has serious complications.  

I would ask the doctor what kind of life he expects or would predict your Dad would have if he chooses NOT to have the surgery. That's a very important question.

Then I would ask the doctor if this was his/her father and all the medical history was the same, would he/she want him to have the surgery--given what is known about the risks and benefits of no surgery and of surgery.

Good luck! Please keep us posted on what happens...