Can you get by using one of these less invasive approaches?

THE ANSWER DEPENDS ON SEVERAL FACTORS…

• Condition of the heart. If the heart can pump enough blood despite the blockages, bypass surgery can probably be avoided.

Bypass surgery is preferable if the heart has been weakened by heart attack.

• Location and number of blockages. The more severe and numerous the blockages, the greater the need for bypass surgery.

Bypass is preferable to angioplasty if blockages are “upstream” (close to the point where the arteries branch off of the aorta)…if the patient has one or more blockages of the left main coronary artery… and/or if two or all three coronary vessels are blocked.

• Level of chest pain. If angina isn’t relieved by medication, bypass is probably the best option.

Angioplasty may be more appropriate if the patient has had just one tiny heart attack, with minimal damage to the heart… has just started to experience angina…or is highly motivated to follow a low-fat diet and regular exercise regimen.

If your doctor recommends bypass, consult a bypass surgeon and a cardiologist who specializes in angioplasty.

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