J
John Decker
Guest
Hello Everyone...
I need some advice about my medical condition. I am 60 years old and otherwise in good health with
the exception of one clogged heart artery. Cardiologist have told me that the rest of my heart &
arteries are fine. The Cardiologist placed a stent in that single defective heart artery. After
three months restenosis occured and the Drs. performed angioplasty again and this time irradiated
the restenosis tissue with beta particles.
Three months later I am experiencing symptoms of restenosis again and went to the Cardiologist
again, explaining my symptoms. The Drs. will do a heart catheterization next week to find out for
sure. I am gradually beginning to realize that stents for some people are not perfect and reasonable
expectation for success without restenosis is in the distant future. I am so depressed and angry
with this procedure.
The Cardiologist have suggested three possible alternatives for the restenosis and seemly want me to
make one of the following decisions.
1. Angioplasty and nothing else. This did not work before; so I am not sure that it is a
proper option.
2. Angioplasty and insertion of a medicated stent within the first stent. I do not like the idea
of a stent within a stent. This I think would narrow the lumen of the artery and perhaps
cause restenosis again. The medicated stent is also another problem that I am conserned with.
I have read reports about the medication on some type of stents causing blood clots and death
of patients.
3. Single artery bypass surgery. Since the rest of my arteries and heart are fine, I have
reservations about doing this type of procedure and there is always a comparatively significant
chance of death with open heart surgery.
My question: What would be the odds of preventing restenosis by doing the angioplasty again and re-
irradiate the tissue again with beta particles. This would be the same procedure that was done the
second time that I have described above. I realize that this procedure did not work before but
perhaps a second treatment of radiation might stop the scar tissue from occluding the one bad heart
artery that I have?
Any advice is welcome! I hope and pray that I make the right decision.
John Decker
I need some advice about my medical condition. I am 60 years old and otherwise in good health with
the exception of one clogged heart artery. Cardiologist have told me that the rest of my heart &
arteries are fine. The Cardiologist placed a stent in that single defective heart artery. After
three months restenosis occured and the Drs. performed angioplasty again and this time irradiated
the restenosis tissue with beta particles.
Three months later I am experiencing symptoms of restenosis again and went to the Cardiologist
again, explaining my symptoms. The Drs. will do a heart catheterization next week to find out for
sure. I am gradually beginning to realize that stents for some people are not perfect and reasonable
expectation for success without restenosis is in the distant future. I am so depressed and angry
with this procedure.
The Cardiologist have suggested three possible alternatives for the restenosis and seemly want me to
make one of the following decisions.
1. Angioplasty and nothing else. This did not work before; so I am not sure that it is a
proper option.
2. Angioplasty and insertion of a medicated stent within the first stent. I do not like the idea
of a stent within a stent. This I think would narrow the lumen of the artery and perhaps
cause restenosis again. The medicated stent is also another problem that I am conserned with.
I have read reports about the medication on some type of stents causing blood clots and death
of patients.
3. Single artery bypass surgery. Since the rest of my arteries and heart are fine, I have
reservations about doing this type of procedure and there is always a comparatively significant
chance of death with open heart surgery.
My question: What would be the odds of preventing restenosis by doing the angioplasty again and re-
irradiate the tissue again with beta particles. This would be the same procedure that was done the
second time that I have described above. I realize that this procedure did not work before but
perhaps a second treatment of radiation might stop the scar tissue from occluding the one bad heart
artery that I have?
Any advice is welcome! I hope and pray that I make the right decision.
John Decker