“When should one choose angioplasty over a bypass surgery?”
I am confused about whether the treatment to my heart blockages should be an angioplasy or bypass surgery. What would you recommend?
4 Answers
In general, angioplasty is better because of the lower complication rate and much quicker recovery, but some blockages are in such critical places in the coronary arteries that angioplasty would be at significant risk of causing a heart attack, possibly fatal, and for these bypass surgery is safer.
This is tough with out seeing the coronary anatomy and knowing background information such as age, gender and hx of diabetes. Generally speaking if the LAD main artery is involved and there are at least one or two other vessels involved then bypass is often a better choice in the long run. This is a generalization and should be discussed with the surgeon and your cardiologist.
Difficult question and somewhat controversial but in general if only one or two blockages, angioplasty usually better. If multiple blocked arteries or in certain dangerous locations for stenting, probably bypass
I would need more information to help you with this. Most significant lesions in one or 2 vessels can be treated with stents and results would be equivalent to bypass, with much quicker recovery. If all 3 vessels are significantly blocked, or if the blockage is particularly complex, surgery may be a better option. Often the cardiologist who diagnosed the problem will consult with a surgeon to come up with the best recommendation
