Hello all. I posted awhile back an introduction and story of my frequent flyer status in the cath lab. My original Stent/PTCA was in Springfield, IL in Dec. '19. Since then, I have had in-stent re-stenosis 4 times. First was 3 month after my original procedure, and they inserted a stent inside the first and a smaller one at the takeoff of that vessel. Then in June, I had chest pain and blockage again, this time doc thought it looked like clot and she was unable to pass an IVUS catheter, so she did multiple inflations with a balloon, again achieving 0% stenosis. Made it all the way to the end of Nov and had to go to the hospital in western Cincinnati while visiting our daughter and new grandbaby. I was 99% occluded then.There, they did multiple passes with a laser and multiple balloon dilatations, opening it to 0% stenosis again. Saw my cardiologist on return home and she added Xeralto low dose to the Brilinta I was already taking.
In March I started having discomfort again, including twice while at cardiac rehab. Saw the doc and he added 2 anti-anginal meds, and scheduled a stress test. Stress test looked fine, but we were not convinced, and when we saw him in the office to discuss, he said stress test misses blockages about 20% of the time, and given my history, we all agreed I should have another heart cath. That happened last Wed., diagnostic cath only in an outpatient center. Again I am 95%+ blocked. He made an appointment for me with cardiac surgeon for this coming Thursday.Friday the office called and said my cardiologist had talked to him and explained the situation, so he wanted to move me up a couple of days. I will see him Tues morning to see if he feels the artery beyond the blockage is too small to do a bypass or if he feels it would be beneficial. As much as I dread the surgery, I do NOT want to keep visiting the revolving door to the cath lab every 3-5 months. My guess is if he decides to go ahead with the surgery it will be soon. If not, the cardiologist said there are a couple of other things he can try in the cath lab, including lithotripsy. I have been reading up on that and it has good success, but I have had good success with all other procedures--just doesn't last. My cholesterol has always been fantastic, but I was started on Atorvastatin a year ago due to being diabetic.
I now have an insulin pump, so sugars are better controlled, and I'm hoping that will help going forward. I know heart bypass is almost a routine procedure, and they have perfected the technique and continue to refine it. I was unaware til recently that they now do beating heart procedures, and my surgeon performs this on about 70-80% of his patients. I was on the other side of the bed for many years, having worked for about 8 years altogether in an ICU taking care of post op open heart patients. I have been in the operating room watching the procedure, so I have a pretty good idea what to expect, though that was over 30 years ago and I know things have changed a LOT since then. Back then, patients were on the vent at least overnight, if not a second day, they were in bed until they went out to the stepdown unit, and in the hospital about 10 days. Now, I am told 3-4 days postop is not uncommon and often you are up in the chair the night of surgery!
Just wondering if any of you had the beating heart procedure and what your experience was with this, or what your experience was anytime in the last 4-5 years. We haven't talked to the surgeon yet so I don't even know if our hospital will allow my wife to visit, which I'm liable to throw a fit if they don't! ;) They have held off on discussing surgery because it is primarily a singe vessel disease. I have other blockages but none over 30-40%. But we can't keep doing heart cath and dilatation or other procedures every few months, so I'm hoping he will say we can go ahead and get it over with.
Any words of encouragement or sharing of experience appreciated. I have been reading this forum for several months, but many of you have had your surgeries years in the past. I was just curious to hear of experiences of surgeries recently.
Thanks all, and Happy Easter to those of you that celebrate.
Dennis
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Dennis Danner
Retired RN
[Punta Gorda, FL
[Phone]
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