Question
My doctor says I have coronary artery disease that requires surgical treatment. What factors does my doctor consider when deciding whether angioplasty or bypass surgery is the most appropriate treatment?
Answer
Many factors are considered when selecting the best treatment approach for an individual with coronary artery disease, including:
- Severity and extent of coronary artery disease
- Symptoms
- Overall heart function
- Co-existing medical conditions, such as heart valve disease, diabetes, kidney disease, peripheral artery disease, or prior stroke or heart attack
In general, if narrowing in your arteries isn't severe enough to limit blood flow to your heart, medications and lifestyle changes — such as quitting smoking and losing weight — may be recommended to slow or stop progression of coronary artery disease. If narrowing is severe enough to reduce blood flow to your heart, angioplasty with stenting is usually recommended. However, if you have multiple blockages, bypass surgery may be a better option.
Some types of narrowing are more difficult to treat than others. For example, if you have severe narrowing and very small blood vessels, you may not benefit from either angioplasty or bypass surgery. In such cases, medications may be the only treatment option.
Discuss with your doctor which treatment approach is most appropriate in your specific situation.
Last Updated: 12/11/2007
