Uncertainty

[djcanderson]

I had a quadruple bypass in 1994 which at the time appeared successful.They used my lima and 3 vein grafts.A good few years ago on angiography it was noticed that the lima had died on the vine and the left artery it was bypassing was working fine.Problem is my angina has returned and yesterday I had another angiography during which they hoped to be able to stent me.Unfortunately all the grafts are now closed.The cardiologist says that the native RCA + CX are occluded but the Las is good--I am not exactly sure what he means.
Apparently it is my choice as to whether to have another bypass or keep taking the tablets.My heart itself is sound with no major damage--just the plumbing problem really.I'm 55 and wandering whether I should opt for the surgery or hang on (I can cope with the angina) for a few years if I can.
Any advice would be appreciated

[Cleveland Clinic]

If your heart function is normal and you are not a diabetic you can hang on with medical management of angina as long as it does not affect your quality of life too much and the medications control it well.  Having a bypass for those two (less important than the LAD) arteries is not justified against the risk of re-operation.  Another thing that could be done is an attempt at the totally occluded RCA/LCX.  Some centers do it quite well.  We have a few specialists that deal with this on a routine basis.    

[djcanderson]

Many thanks for replying to my question it is very helpful to have an expert opinion.I must admit the thought of another bypass does worry me and in some ways I regret having had the first one because in effect all the grafts put into place in 1994 have failed.Also of course it means that my lima has in effect gone to waste presumably leaving me a problem for a redo bypass if the LAD does start to give problems.Presumably when you say attempt to open the totally occluded RCA/LCX you would mean to do it with some catheter procedure?