Daddy's heart is in such bad shape that a stent or bypass are not possible. After his cath lab Monday 7/7 early morning, one of the docs drew this diagram. The #s are the percentage of blockage. These are just eyeballed numbers based on how quickly the contrast dye moved through the different arteries while observed on video. We got to see these videos Monday night after Daddy arrived at UPMC.
The doc who did the angiogram said that his heart had scar tissue, indicating that he had previous heart attacks. Also, his body created some of its own bypasses by growing arteries from (I think) the LGx in the picture. In all fairness to a guy who will do anything to avoid going to the doctor, you can have heart attacks without chest pain, such as in the inferior wall. They said he must have had symptoms for many years and just never told anyone. Daddy does say everyone has aches and pains, but maybe that's being a little too tough.
This group said that stents are apparently not possible (I believe that's being revisited by the current group) because the blockages are so high. They are "calcified" with plaque and cholesterol. Also, in order to do a bypass, you have to have a good "target" and there is nowhere to bypass to.
Normally at rest your heart operates at 55% of its capacity, IMO to allow for a "surge" capability. Daddy's operates at only 20%, so, basically at 1/3 power. We are all wondering how he's been able to DO all of the physically demanding outdoor work like that.
The first team said that 70-80% of his heart is damaged and that all arteries have severe disease. There is also a large clot in (I think) the left ventricle which may be related to this recent heart attack. We're waiting on a cardiac MRI here which should give more detail.
No comments:
Post a Comment