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Angiogram procedure
i am 78 and just had an angiogram which diagnosed Severe Ostial to mid vessel LAD disease and also Moderate mid and distal RCA disease
Negative on pressure wire FFR and RFR
I went into this expecting stents but have had none, just told an initial discussion will be had by my consultant cardiologists on treatment options.
I fear in UK costs on the NHS may be a factor due to age and need best independent advice on the best way forward options.
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Moderate coronary arterial disease/obstruction/calcification put the patient in the 'watch' category with more frequent assessments until the occlusion becomes dangerous, which is near the 70% mark.
Your overall health, daily routine, and the quality of your interactions with caregivers, particularly the experts such as cardiologists and thoracic surgeons, determines whether or not you're put in a high risk category. The cost to the system is not important in that each patient, regardless of age, will cost about the same for the same procedure. If you stand to have extended longevity and/or quality of life by having the surgery, it will be provided (with some variance between the assessing experts, their experience, their leadership/hospital administration, their training, and their continuous upgrading and learning which all professionals should undertake).
You should make a list of pertinent questions to put to your surgeon or cardiologist next time you meet so that you feel secure that you will receive the best care possible for your needs when you need it.
Hi @winproc, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! You are going through a stressful diagnostic process and have found a good place for input and encouragement from others.
@gloaming has provided good feedback. From my own experience, a list of questions to ask as well as being able to summarize just how your symptoms are affecting your day-to-day will also help your doctor understand how to address your concerns.
It may help others know better how to support you, if you don’t mind sharing a bit more about what prompted you to have an angiogram. What symptoms are you having? Do you have a follow-up appointment scheduled?
One interesting thing I have learned doing research is that stents are not a cure. The cure is cardiac rehab! They usually do not place stents if you have blockages that are less than 70% occluded. Sometimes they can’t place them because of severe calcification of the vessel.
Another consideration is that after the stents are placed there is an immediate need to go on aspirin and an antiplatelet drug. These thin your blood and can cause severe issues with bleeding. Some people cannot take them because of other health issues.
I hope that you can have a good conversation with your cardiologists and find out exactly what you can do to improve your health situation!