Father with many complications

[TLC3459]

Hello, My father was in the hospital for the last 2 to 3 weeks for a series of health issues. That all started with a really bad cough which turned into phenomina. While we were at the hospital having tests done we found out that he also has congested heart failure, and then some kidney failure. He was told that he had 99.% of one of his main arteries blocked and that he was only using 20% of his heart. The Doctors at first wanted to do by pass surgery but my father refused and the Dr.s suggested to do a stent but my father refused this also. He does not want to be reassessed and so we have had him moved to a nursing facility for medical management. Before all of this started he was living in an assited living home. I guess my question is: What else can we expect to fail in his body from the heart and also the kidney's?

[kenkeith]

QUOTE: "He was told that he had 99.% of one of his main arteries blocked and that he was only using 20% of his heart"

>>>>Seven years ago I was diagnosed with congested heart failure, hospitalized, and treated.  I had/have a totally blocked LAD, RCA 98% blocked and stented and a 70% circumflex not stented.  "Using 20% of his heart" doesn't mean 80% is not functioning.  The percentage represents the amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat.  Normal is 50 to 70% and referred to as the ejcection fraction (EF). At the time of my event the EF was below 29%. .

The 99.0% occluded vessel would have some collateral vessel development over the years and that would be suppling oxygenated blood to the area normally supplied by occluded vessel.  If there weren't collateral vessels, we could not exit for very long with a totally blocked coronary artery....

I had congested heart failure and a dry cough as your father had and that was due to fluid buildup in the lungs as the blood received from the lungs backed up due to weak contraction of the heart's pumping chamber.  I didn't have pneumonia nor any kidney problems, but if those conditions can be effectively managed the outlook may not be bleak for a full recovery. Currently my heart is the normal size and the EF is 59%,

Thanks for sharing your father's experience and if you have any further questions or comments you are welcome to respond.  Take care, and I wish your father well going forward.

Ken

[erijon]

Sorry to hear of your father's issues, sounds like a difficult situation. Could you tell us how old he is? This may help us give you some better input.

Jon

[jrbon]

Our body is an amazing machine ...

If he has an EF of 20% & 99% blockage everything can fail ... or nothing...
The most probably, I would say that are the pulmonary issues (with edema), Miocardial Infarction, or worsen of the renal failure ... but nobody can say it for sure.

Jesus

[kehdi22]

Hello TLC,

Sorry to hear that. I think if he is taking the properly medecine for the pneumonia, and some medecine for his heart and kidney. He will be able to recover. I seen someone with almost same symptoms and recovered very well. May take time and proper care.

Let me know how things goes!

Take care.