Clogged Arteries

[ibia]

I am an overweight  60 year old female with high blood pressure.  I have been taking medication for the pressure.  I was having dizzy spells and blacked out once.  I went to the doctor.  They gave me an Echo and Stress test.  The doctor said the opening and closing of my heart was good, but the stress test indicated I might have clogged arteries and he wants to do a Cardiac Catheterization.  I asked if there was another way to know if I had clogged arteries before he did the procedure, he said no.  I checked and you can have a MRI or CT scan.  Should I request these tests before they do the Catheterization?

[kenkeith]

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.  A bypass may also be apropriate if the occlusion is located that makes a stent not possible or the lesion is too long tortuous,etc.

For more than 5 years I have a totally blocked LAD and a 72% blocked circumflex, medication controls angina and there has been no progression.  You can google COURAGE study, and the statistics show there is no difference in life span or any other benefit with a stent or bypass over medications.