Angioplasty

[TheVTCGuy]

Some of you may remember, I had some very scary times last month when my mother was hospitalized with AFIB and a pulse of 150. She is 84 years old. It turns out, the issue was probably triggered by the terrible flu she had, an infection, dehydrated, etc. Right as they were getting ready to due a procedure called an "ablasion" her heart "converted" (I learned a lot of medical terms that week) and ever since has been absolutely perfect. She has a pulse of 72 and P waves, T waves, M waves, whatever are absolutely perfect. Another huge thanks to Terry, DJ TT 2002, an MD who was kind enough to give me his phone number and explained a lot of what was happening; (poor guy, I am sure he regrets giving me that number ). My mother had a serious heart attack 30 years ago but other then that is in excellent health, usually with more energy then I have. A retired Nurse, she volunteers every week at the very hospital she was in. She had every heart test known to man completed, echo-gram, stress test and things I can't pronounce much less spell. Her heart actually turned out to be in very good condition, the echo showed an efficiency of 65%, for someone of her age anything 50 or over is considered good. BUT... they found some blockage, and have recommended an angioplasty.

It can't be tremendously serious as they said "in the next few months" but we are scheduling it for a couple weeks from now. I am actually familiar with this procedure, when I was a junior engineer with Sony, I stood in ORs as this was performed and I transmitted the images to Medical schools all over the country. I must have seen 100, and there was never an issue or problem encountered in any of them, but this time, it's MY mother lying on the table.

They say it is an outpatient procedure, she will have it in the morning and monitor her during the day, if everything is fine she will go home that evening. Of course I will be there and stay with her a couple days. She says she feels fine now and is back to her old self, but also agrees to have this procedure; being a retired Nurse she trusts her cardiologist.

Do any of you TRFers have experience with angioplasty? Maybe a friend, family member or even yourselves? I would love to hear your experiences, anything that I should know, watch out for, expect etc. My father has been gone 20 years. I am at the age that someday I will have to face the same with my mother, but quoting my favorite line from the movie Gladiator: "Not Yet my friend...Not yet."

Thank you,

[BNA/LION]

Sorry I can't provide any advice or information. I can offer my support and help should you need it. Best Wishes to you and your Mom!

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by BNALION

Sorry I can't provide any advice or information. I can offer my support and help should you need it. Best Wishes to you and your Mom!

[Bryant Park]

Most importantly great to hear she is doing better. My mother has undergone 2 angioplasties. The first one was effective but some blockage reoccurred after approx 4 years. She was limited in terms of after procedure medication due to other conditions. I am told this is likely why the second procedure was needed. So far it appears to have been successful.

In both cases as you describe in and out the same day with minimal discomfort. I am hardly a doctor but this seems to be a fairly common procedure.

All the best and she will be in our prayers ! Also if you want more detail please don't hesitate to PM me.

[ICUdR]

Hi mate

I'm work in ICU and specialised in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Angioplasty has advanced so much that we see less heart bypass surgery than we used to 5-10years ago.

It's quite a safe procedure and gets done tones of times every day.

Interventional cardiologist are doing really well as their equipment is very safe and small in size plus they have thousands of these procedures under their belts.

Most of the time its a day procedure

They'll insert a small plastic tubing (canula) through the wrist or the groin and will make their way up. This presents the first common issues. Obtaining access and a likely bruise. Plus a bit of pressure in the area at the end of the procedure.

Not being able to put the stent is another possible issue

The least common but more serious are related to the canulation of the coronary arteries. Causing arrhythmias (that most of the time respond well to electrical cardioversion, like the one your mother had before) and damage to the coronary arteries with the surgical instruments

Overall it's a very safe procedure and I'd be more worried about having a hernia repaired than having a stent put in

Hope this is of any help and that I answered the questions you had in mind

Cheers

Ken


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[tritium8]

*not a doctor but spend most of my day in the Cath/EP lab where they do these procedures.

As you've seen from your days with Sony, cardiologist due an amazing number of these every day. Obviously, the "fairly common" becomes more serious when it's you or someone you know. She may or may not get a stent (metal scaffolding in the artery) and they may or may not change/add some meds. Glad she's doing better from the last episode! Does she have a HR monitor? Alivecor/Kardia make an interesting portable ekg monitor you might consider getting her (depending on how technical she is). The biggest concern will be managing the catheter insertion sight (wrist or groin) if she's on blood thinners. She'll be fine, though. She has you to look after her. Let us know how it goes and don't be afraid to ask questions of the doc.

[watchfreak18]

I am an interventional radiologist; As Ken explained, it is considered a relatively easy and quick procedure. The whole idea is to decrease the burden of the atherosclerotic plaque to increase the blood flow of coronary arteries. She should be fine and hope everything goes well with you guys.

[DJ TT 2002]

Originally Posted by ICUdR

Hi mate

I'm work in ICU and specialised in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Angioplasty has advanced so much that we see less heart bypass surgery than we used to 5-10years ago.

It's quite a safe procedure and gets done tones of times every day.

Interventional cardiologist are doing really well as their equipment is very safe and small in size plus they have thousands of these procedures under their belts.

Most of the time its a day procedure

They'll insert a small plastic tubing (canula) through the wrist or the groin and will make their way up. This presents the first common issues. Obtaining access and a likely bruise. Plus a bit of pressure in the area at the end of the procedure.

Not being able to put the stent is another possible issue

The least common but more serious are related to the canulation of the coronary arteries. Causing arrhythmias (that most of the time respond well to electrical cardioversion, like the one your mother had before) and damage to the coronary arteries with the surgical instruments

Overall it's a very safe procedure and I'd be more worried about having a hernia repaired than having a stent put in

Hope this is of any help and that I answered the questions you had in mind

Cheers

Ken


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Very well said. You're a good man to provide the invaluable CTS perspective!
I was a student with an Australian surgeon. Very colorful individual

Called the scrub nurses " Sister" ... unique in the US.
All male students scrubbed in were George 1 & 2 & 3 etc
All females students scrubbed Mary 1 etc.
Great to work with him

[DJ TT 2002]

PM sent.
Pleased to be of any assistance
The procedure is so routine in 2018 that it's hardly a blip on the medical radar.
Anticoagulant therapy is common and easily managed in this setting

Good wishes for you and your Mother,
Terry

[Max16013]

Originally Posted by DJ TT 2002

PM sent.
Pleased to be of any assistance
The procedure is so routine in 2018 that it's hardly a blip on the medical radar.
Anticoagulant therapy is common and easily managed in this setting

Good wishes for you and your Mother,
Terry

You’re a good man.

Prayers going out to you and your mother, Paul.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tkerrmd]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Some of you may remember, I had some very scary times last month when my mother was hospitalized with AFIB and a pulse of 150. She is 84 years old. It turns out, the issue was probably triggered by the terrible flu she had, an infection, dehydrated, etc. Right as they were getting ready to due a procedure called an "ablasion" her heart "converted" (I learned a lot of medical terms that week) and ever since has been absolutely perfect. She has a pulse of 72 and P waves, T waves, M waves, whatever are absolutely perfect. Another huge thanks to Terry, DJ TT 2002, an MD who was kind enough to give me his phone number and explained a lot of what was happening; (poor guy, I am sure he regrets giving me that number ). My mother had a serious heart attack 30 years ago but other then that is in excellent health, usually with more energy then I have. A retired Nurse, she volunteers every week at the very hospital she was in. She had every heart test known to man completed, echo-gram, stress test and things I can't pronounce much less spell. Her heart actually turned out to be in very good condition, the echo showed an efficiency of 65%, for someone of her age anything 50 or over is considered good. BUT... they found some blockage, and have recommended an angioplasty.

It can't be tremendously serious as they said "in the next few months" but we are scheduling it for a couple weeks from now. I am actually familiar with this procedure, when I was a junior engineer with Sony, I stood in ORs as this was performed and I transmitted the images to Medical schools all over the country. I must have seen 100, and there was never an issue or problem encountered in any of them, but this time, it's MY mother lying on the table.

They say it is an outpatient procedure, she will have it in the morning and monitor her during the day, if everything is fine she will go home that evening. Of course I will be there and stay with her a couple days. She says she feels fine now and is back to her old self, but also agrees to have this procedure; being a retired Nurse she trusts her cardiologist.

Do any of you TRFers have experience with angioplasty? Maybe a friend, family member or even yourselves? I would love to hear your experiences, anything that I should know, watch out for, expect etc. My father has been gone 20 years. I am at the age that someday I will have to face the same with my mother, but quoting my favorite line from the movie Gladiator: "Not Yet my friend...Not yet."

Thank you,

I do it for a living PM me

[Flyinghunter]

Prayers up for your mom. Best wishes for a great outcome.

[hdrazor251]

My only experience was my uncle had it many year ago and no complications that I can remember.

However, if I remember correctly she in in the Phoenix area, so if there is anything either of you need just shoot me a PM.

[JasoninDenver]

Dang, you are a good kid.

Good luck with your mom. I am sure the feedback from others on the forum will calm your worried mind.

[TheVTCGuy]

Thank you everyone for you kind words, I am learning more about the procedure. I don’t want to use the word “Routine” but these are very common, with a very high rate of success and no complications. Still, I can’t wait until it’s over and my mother is Ok.

[goin camping]

No experience with that but seems like half the people I know have been through it. No problems and no worries.

I'm pulling for your Mom and you.

[RichM]

Wishing your Mom the best. I'm sure everything will turn out OK.