Ongoing situation..Advice please 100% + 70% block

[prem810]

My father in law had a heart attack two days ago.  100% block on left and 70% on right.  100% block on left side was removed by angioplasty immediately.  However, his heart required a "air pump" balloon to assist pumping to bring heart pressure to normal (I wonder if I am saying that properly !!)  Because of the low heart pressure his 70% clot has not been removed.  He is progressing well, and the pump assistance has been removed.  The doctor believes that the other block can be treated by medicine alone.  Is a 70% block on right side (the only block) OK to leave to medicine?

Any advice will help and be tremendously appreciated.  I understand this is advice only, but opinions help make decisions.

[kenkeith]

Sometimes an intra-aorta ballon pump.  The aorta is the a large vessel that carries blood to the system. The balloon is timed to inflate at the end of diastole (filling phase), creating a forcible pressure backwards along the aortic arch, pushing blood actively through the coronary arteries. This helps  perfuse the coronary arteries, when they are nearly closed by tight lesions. Although the pump was first used for surgical patients, the pump can now be used along with interventional cardiology procedures and medical therapy (medications) for heart failure, acute heart attack and support during high-risk rotoblator procedures, and coronary stent placement.

For over 6 years I have had a completely blocked LAD (other vessels feed the blood supply deficit)  A 72% blocked circumflex.  I had had an ischemic (compromised blood flow) heart attack. Subsequently, medication has reduced heart enlargement and currently the heart is pumping adequately.  If medication is effective (no symptoms), that would give evidence that medication has dilated vessel and heart cells are receiving sufficient blood supply.  Also, medication reduces the heart's workload, and often the heart will heal and function normally after several months. I wish your uncle well, take care.

[ChatterAlly]

With meds and lifestyle changes the outcome is very promising. I think exercise is a key to better heart health, also.  I told my son the other day that I needed to start back to walking again.  I was walking 3 miles 5 times a week.  I think, in my case, to slow my heart down with no exercise is the worse action I could take.  I need to keep my heart working.   I and others on this forum are walking around with blockages that are 70% or less and even more and are being treated with meds and making lifestyle changes. Take care, Ally

[prem810]

THANKS for your answer.  Sorry could not reply as I was caught up in the situation!! I appreciate your feedback, and is reassuring>

[ed34]

In a word, yes. IF your father in law has any symptoms caused by the blockage, such as mild chest pains, throat/jaw ache, shortness of breath etc, they medication can certainly be a big help. He is right on the borderline of intervention through stenting, as 70% and above is classed as requiring intervention. The left side of the heart is the important one, this does most of the work and was the cause of the heart attack. It's one of those 'try and see' scenarios, but it certainly isn't dangerous to leave a 70% blockage. I have a whole range of blockages in my right coronary artery, ranging from 10% to 100%. In the majority of cases, it's when the left side of the heart is restricted that you know about it. When he is fully recovered, I would actually doubt if he will notice a 70% blockage in the RCA. 70% sounds a lot doesnt it, but the arteries are much bigger than they need to be (although they are tiny) and 30% blood flow is usually adequate. It certainly isn't anywhere near enough to cause any muscle damage or cell death.