Angioplasty?

[Minnie824]

So, I just talked to my mom. She went in for a routine stress test today. Her doctor recommended it because she is recently diabetic and is 61 and never had one. After the test, the doctor said she needed angioplasty this week for 1-2 blocked arteries. Apparently they couldn't tell how blocked they were but now she's scheduled for the procedure on Friday. She has no symptoms, no shortness of breath, chest pain, she exercises 4 days a week. I wouldn't say she's the picture of health (due to her terrible diet) but overall ok. I'm more worried that the doctor didn't want her to wait a week to have this done, but wanted her to go in this week still. Can anyone tell me about someone who has had this, or how worried I should be? Thanks.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

My dad has had several of them. They are probably wanting to do the procedure right away if they don't know how blocked the arteries are. Dad is 81 now but had is first one right after a heart attack when he was 60. They are usually awake for the procedure and have to lay flat for several hours right after it is done. Dad's never had any real complications from them but it is really important that they lay flat for as long as the doctor/nurse recommends. They do this because they go in through an artery in the groin area and it takes a few hours for the area to stabilize so they won't have severe bleeding.

 

[Frantasmic]

Usually, if they find something in the stress test, they do an angiogram first which is a catheter with the dye and tv scope; this tells how much is blocked.

I don't think someone can tell 100 percent, unless they are really good and experienced, that you do have blockage from a stress test. Usually, something doesn't look good from the stress test and they do the angiogram.

Since the catheter is already in use for an angiogram, they can do angioplasty or place a stent or two as required right there.

My dad did this in May and I took him on the walk down to Carlsbad Caverns at the end of July. That walk is about 1 1/2 miles and very steep in places. So, recovery is pretty quick.

If blockage is suspected, they want to take care of it as soon as possible. People can even go straight from an angiogram to by-pass surgery if the blockage is bad enough.

How worried should you be? I'd guess about 3.25 on a 1-10 scale. Generally, they do this all the time. There's always a possibility that a stent won't do the trick and they will have to schedule by-pass surgery, but generally if they are going with angioplasty first, the situation should be taken care of with the simpler in-house procedure.

It depends on the doctor; some will let people go home if it's done early in the day. My dad is older and he was kept in the hospital overnight just to make sure his incision healed properly. He'd been on blood thinner and they don't want you running the risk of that femoral artery not closing after the procedure.