Dr said he cannot do angioplasty on my 75 yr grandfather??!

Dr said he cannot do angioplasty on my 75 yr grandfather??

I called my aunt and told me that my grandfather cannot have the angioplasty done because his arteries are very damaged . please i need help on this . I thought that anybody can haavve this procedure done. what other options are out there and would he do fine with medicine only????

Hi, - Im very sorry for you and the situation you're in. But it's not a "Black and White" situation. It's all down to judgements, percentages, and some luck. Just because your Grandfather's doctor says no, doesn't mean another won't have a different opinion.

Each Surgeon will assess the percentage chances of success or failure of the operation, and it may well be that others may be much more optimistic than your present one.

In the final analysis the choice has got to be yours of course, -but in making that choice you have to be as "informed" as possible. - So a second, -even third opinion might be advisable. Lots of surgeons want only to take on operations that are above 60% likely to succeed, -for their reputation's sake as well as the thought of litigation. But the fact is that without the angioplasty, he's 100% certain to die anyway, especially if his angina is "unstable" -like mine was. If he's got "unstable angina" then it's just a matter of time and fortune when and where his next heart attack is going to occur. Mine was in bed at 2 a.m., when I was sleeping. Had it been in a field, miles from anywhere, I wouldn't be here today.
You and he must decide, but get as much information as to the odds of success or failure before making the decision.

Good luck, and if I were Grandpa, I'd weigh up the odds pretty carefully. !