Connect
← Return to Treatment for Coronary Total Occlusion(100% blockage)
Discussion
Treatment for Coronary Total Occlusion(100% blockage)
Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: Nov 8, 2023 | Replies (45)Comment receiving replies
@caretakermom, @amandaburnett - Amanda, I saw @caretakermom post and had meant to post but thank you for the added motivation.
My story was that I found out that I had a 100% occlusion only after suffering a HA. Even though I had been working out in a gym 3x a week and for the most part eating healthy, a glass of wine on an occasion and a non-smoker. Suffering through what is referred to as the Widow Maker I was very fortunate in that I choose to have my wife drive me up to the ER. That was a big mistake! Anyway, the best part of the story is that I'm still here!
My LAD (left anterior descending artery) was found to be 100% occluded and my cardiologist was able to install a stent to open it up.
I believe they told me that one other artery was at about 60% occluded, but not at a point that they would stent it.
@caretakermom I'm not 100% sure when you say Coronary Total Occlusion if you are referring to one artery or several?
Several of my earlier posts delve deeper into that story, but feel free to ask any more questions.
Jim @thankful
Replies to "@caretakermom, @amandaburnett - Amanda, I saw @caretakermom post and had meant to post but thank you..."
Connect
@thankful, not sure the technical name but the 100% occluded artery is the one in the back of the heart that runs to the front right. According to the cardiologist, this artery does not really affect the heart muscle, and the collateral blood vessels formed as a result of the occlusion, is supplying adequate, while not optimal, blood to the heart. As such, the cardiologist seems to suggest it should be left alone, since my husband is asymptomatic(no chest pain) doing normal activity. The occlusion, unfortunately, is about 12cm long suggesting that it has been there for quite some time. Surprising because last year during nuclear stress test, the result came back normal. It was the stress test done this year that showed abnormality. Could a 12cm blockage occur within 1 year, or was it there all along and the first nuclear stress test didn't pick it up? Due to the length of the occlusion, cardiologist says it will be a very challenging job to stent the artery and the chance of success is a mere 30%!!! And that is his honest opinion. He is giving me the impression it's almost not worth fixing and it's a valid argument. Except that my husband is also a dialysis patient and he wants to be eligible to get a kidney transplant. Our intention is to list with Mayo in Arizona because the wait list is shorter than California(we live in soCal). To be eligible of transplant listing, the center will require clearance of the heart which means the CTO must be fixed. Sounds like the longer the occlusion, the more complex the procedure. UCLA can do this procedure but they will select certain candidates, mainly the ones with symptoms, which will exclude my husband.
Jim, where did you get treatment for your 100% occluded artery? Was the procedure done at Mayo Clinic in AZ? How big was the occlusion? Are you pleased with the treatment you received? We are looking for a second opinion and was thinking about Mayo Clinic, but I couldn't find anything about treatment for CTO on their website. We are looking for a center that has the technology and expertise to perform Coronary Percutaneous Intervention on CTO. If you have any suggestions, would like to hear your input. Anna