Angioplasty Surgery

[spartacus321]

My dad had a severe heart attack about 2 months ago and thankfully received attention in time to save his life. Within about 24 hours he had an angiogram done and stright after he had angioplasty surgery done with stent placement.

Just recently was his first checkup since the whole ordeal, he's doing fine by the way, moving about, eating healthy etc.

We asked the doctor how long does the surgery give one's life on average, since I also had an uncle who underwent triple bypass surgery before, those doctors gave him 7-10years, but he actually made it to just over 15years with proper eating and overall care.

The doctor said well with angioplasty you continue living as normal, there's no 7-10years really, you just go on until you can....

I think my parents read a book by the name "The Heart of the Matter" and that indicated something like angioplasty patients usually only have about 5 years expectancy after the surgery.

Anyone knows patients who had this type of surgery and know what sort of lifestyle they carry out, and what sort of time period has gone since their surgery?

Thanks.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Stents/angioplasty have proven somewhat troublesome, with an increased frequency of side effects complications, compared with a coronary artery bypass graft.

The results depend greatly on how much your dad changes his lifestyle after the surgery.

There's been a turf war over interventional cardiology (stents/angioplasty) versus the more invasive CABG's, and it's not going to go away anytime soon, both camps publish data supporting their respective procedures, ignoring other data & factors.

I really wouldn't worry too much about the time limits published, just pay attention to the lifestyle changes necessary to live a longer healthier life.

 

[spartacus321]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Stents/angioplasty have proven somewhat troublesome, with an increased frequency of side effects complications, compared with a coronary artery bypass graft.

The results depend greatly on how much your dad changes his lifestyle after the surgery.

There's been a turf war over interventional cardiology (stents/angioplasty) versus the more invasive CABG's, and it's not going to go away anytime soon, both camps publish data supporting their respective procedures, ignoring other data & factors.

I really wouldn't worry too much about the time limits published, just pay attention to the lifestyle changes necessary to live a longer healthier life.

Cool thanks

He has been a healthy eater for the past 2 years, I guess his lifestyle change since then just prolonged the inevitable heart attack which was just building up over the years.

The new diet he has to follow isnt bad for him, he enjoys the kind of food recommended so that's good. Its just the change in physical activity that'll have him down mostly, but hey, he's got life and thats great!

 

[Pliablemoose]

My mom is 5 years out from a CABG, and I've known many patients that are 15+ years and doing very well.

 

[Dogmeat]

My Father had a quintuple bypass surgery aroung 1980. He changed his eating habits, walks every day and had no problems until 1996. He then had an angioplasty and is still doing very well today (83 years old), still eats right (low coloresteral - low fat diet) and walks 1/2 to 1 mile every day -wheather permitting.

I think it really depends on the person and their family history. I knew an Engineer at work in 1992 that was going in for his fifth bypass surgery. We used to kid him about just getting a zipper put in. For him it was hereditary. He wasn't over weight and was a "Type A" personality. He was "Go Mode" from the time he woke up untill he'd shut off the lights. If it wasn't for the fact that he was a full blown LDS (I don't hold that against him) I'd have thought he was a "crankster".

But I digress. Bottom line - if your Dad eats right AND gets excercise every day- he probably will live a normal if not longer life.