Some more insight in addition to Flycaster's information.
You should get an understanding if the totally blocked arteries have developed a natural bypass (collateral vessels,angiogeneisis growth) that is now supplying the area with blood/oxygen. I and others on this forum have totally blocked arteries and manage very well without intervention (by-pass). You my not need a bypass or a stent.
hey my dad is suppose to go in for an angiogram but he fears what might happen to him if he does. i was wondering if there was possible any alternative procedure or something else he could possibly do.
I meant to say and said the cath angiogram was unnecessary unless it was agreed and understood that there would in all probablity be angioplasty (stent, balloon) with a cath angiogram. there is a higher than expected probability there would be a stent implanted with a cath angiogram ...there are statistics available).
The tests indicated a blockage. I am now waiting for an angiogram. They put me on drugs after the test. I am on 1.25mg Monocor, 5mg Norvasc, 10mg Crestor as well as ASA 81mg - one per day. Now I wait for Angiogram. I am quite freaked out. So I am scheduled for an angiogram on Feb 5th. They tell me there are risks in this test. The risk is 1 in 1000 people die, stroke or have a heart attack during this proceedure. My question is this, Should I get a 64-slice Coronary CT Angiograph​y?
Was the angiogram a CT scan? It seems if the angiogram was a cath intervention through the coronary vessel a stent implant would have been done at the time to save money and reduce the risk?! Generally a lesion greater than 70% and medication doesn't relieve symptoms, then a stent implant. Sometimes a stent implant is not an option due to location, etc. and a bypass may be the only option.
Generally, for discussion only, and not any advise, you may want to forgo an angiogram and stent implant. The basis would be improved symptoms, as the degree of physiologic response to luminal dimensional change may be assessed by correlation of exercise capacity (your symptoms improved by exercise testing?) with quantitative measurements of the obstruction diameter at the lesion sites.
I have a 72% circumflex artery blockage for more than 6 years with no apparent progression and treated effectively with medication. Before a cath angiogram, you should discuss stent implants as an option, because you can almost be assured there will be a stent implant with the prep for the procedure, and the procedure makes it convenient and sometimes it is unnecessary.
Trestment for ischemia can be medication, stent implant and open heart bypass.
jlaracuente is right. An angiogram shows all the arteries and if one or two are blocked the drs insert a stent to keep it open. Sometimes if the blockage isn't too bad, they just use a balloon to push the plaque against the artery walls and don't use a stent.
The angiogram itself is a series of "pictures". The patient lies down flat, you don't have to be sedated but can request sedation if you're really nervous.
so I called my reg Cardioloigist (who I had seen in the past for PVCs) They had me come in. He looked at the pictures of the angiogram and said he wanted to stent the 90% blockage, but it was risky because of location, but that he thot he could do it...and that my pain would be gone. I said "I dont have pain"... He wasnt feeling good that day and told me so... he said }"You are going to give me a heart attack!" I guess because I was questioning him too much for his liking??.
Hi Ken-thanks for responding-have you had an angiogram? My cardiologist put me on im (time released nitrates) in addition to the toprol xl (beta blocker) & said if the angina & SOB continued he wants to do an angiogram-if you did have an angiogram how did they decide when to do it?
If there are blockages, a stent implant (usually done at time of angiogram) will increase the diameter of the occlusion/occlusions permitting more blood to the deficit area. Sometimes the area of blockage can not be stented because of location, tortuous segment, too long, etc...then a bypass surgical operation may be the only remedy.
Alternatively, some people find relief from chest pain with medication.
By any chance do you know if there is a significant difference in the number of images for an angiogram without stents vs the one that would have two stents?
The hospital said that there are 6 discs for an angioplasty (2 stents) but only 1 disc for just the angiogram when they didn't place any stents.
Thanks!
Would a Fractional flow Reserve or FFR, posted on the New England Journal of Medicine on JAN. 2009 would have been a better procedure as opposed to an angiogram with die and implant of an Integrity RX BMS STENT on a 88 year old male with no history of cardio or pulmonary issues, fairly healthy who suffered his first heart attack at 88 years of age? just curious.
I recently had stent placed on my left subclavian artery as it was 90% occluded. I had quadruple bypass surgery 13 years ago( using the left internal mammary artery grafting to the left anterior descending coronary) and recently had been having increasing jaw pains and upper back pains ( no dizziness or fainting).
I had an angiogram then had a double by-pass and aortic valve replacement surgery all performed within 24 hrs.
A cath angiogram revealed 80-90% blockage on my left anterior artey (LAD). I am a 52 years old man , No diabetic, No Hi-blood pressure. No any pain on my chest. I am active, go to the gym and in full time job. Stenting or Bi-pass, What is best treatment for my 80-90% LAD Blockage ?
Yes, a CT scan 64-slice angiogram is an alternative to the intervention of a cath angiogram. Because there has been too many unnecessary stent implants, there are quidelines for treatment of angina and suspected CAD.
If angina (chest pain) can be controlled with medication, then treat medically. If angina is not controlled, then stent occlusions greater than 70%. In the event there is an emergency with an occlusion then a by pass.
I had an angiogram done 3 weeks ago and about a week ago I started being very itchy in that area now a week later I am itchy all over and have hives. Could this be from the angiogram? I also had an angio-seal put in. It is driving me crazy. what can i do?
I had angiogram. It showed 4 of 5 bypasses were in tact and other had gotten some collateral circultaion. 2nd cardiologist want to get the films themselves and states the pictures themseves. the report on the one gone bad is very vague. I thought was was only one way to read an angiogram to determine if a stent is needed. I get chest pain 10-20 times a day. with 3-10 nitro on average. My stroll is now down to a shuffle, just trying to ward of the chest pain.
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