Heart Doctors Held Back Stent Death Data

[MichaelJH]

This is more a disturbing than an interesting read. I will watch Newsnight tonight although I did not spot whn it is being broadcast. At the moment I am not commenting further as I do not want to speculate!

bbc.co.uk/news/health-51539112

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

This is the EXCEL trial I posted about 2 months ago.

The debate is still rumbling on

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Milkfairy]

Ah thank god for that, thought my mind had deserted me for a bit. I started reading this and knew I'd already read something about this, then I seen the bit that it relates to left main disease , and I was convinced I'd seen this before - but how, this was a new post! Was on the point of ringing the surgery in the morning for a test to see if I was going gaga, then you posted Milkfairy. 😕 - 123 and deep breath!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Relax - it's not Groundhog Day!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Milkfairy]

So why are they recycling it? I remembered something similar had been mentioned previously but not when?

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to MichaelJH]

Could be a slow news day in the Health dept of Auntie, or more likely someone has posted the wrong URL. I used to do that from time to time just to see if the troops were paying attention!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

People do complain about the number of repeats! 😁

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to MichaelJH]

Maybe as Spiritofthe Floyd suggests a slow news day......

[Prada47]

Hi Michael

Well I think I may be OK

I had LAD by passed if I remember correctly with my Mammary artery and then had it stented later I wonder if this constitutes a Belt and Braces approach.

Interesting read !!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Prada47]

How long after your bypass was your LAD stented? Usually if a bypass needs stenting it is a vein from the leg or arm.

[Prada47 in reply to MichaelJH]

It was just under 3 years I will get the letter out and see what it says !!! post it tomorrow !!

[Hidden in reply to Prada47]

I thought it was standardized procedure to use a graft from the mammary artery for the LAD, as statistically it’s less likely to block compared to other types of grafts.

[Heythrop51]

Saw it on Newsnight. Totally unprofessional behaviour!

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Heythrop51]

Was this broadcast again on last night's Newsnight?

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Milkfairy]

I watched it but not having seen the original I have no idea if it was a repeat or a repackage? Worrying!

[Newcastle53]

Didnt see newsnight but will watch it. Shocking on the face of it and data needs a truly independent review. My husband had grafts from Internal mammaries to LAD in 2002, then stents last year which blocked within 10 days causing an MI. He is not a candidate for 2nd bypass so fingers crossed stents do their work. I have worked in medical device industry for many years so not completely surprised to hear of this furore!

[Tinker2015]

What does this actually mean that stents don’t have a good outcome don’t understand about the left side is not very knowledgeable like you Michael

[not2worry]

Here in the States the underground rumblings are that stents are the most economical method to treat blocked arteries and heart disease is a growing medical problem due to obesity, couch potatoes and stressors.

Typical HA Treatment - Stent It, In and Out, see you in 6 months. Many are not even offered Cardiac Rehab.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to not2worry]

I think stents are off first choice in obese and morbidly obese patients because of the risk associated with anaesthetic and full on surgery. Locally someone of 5' 4" and 30 stone (you do the maths) cannot have a hernia repaired as the medical team think the chances of survival are too slim.!

[Heythrop51 in reply to MichaelJH]

Wow, I make that 71.7 with at least 19 stone to lose!

[Alison_L]

What is "Left Main Disease"? Do we call call it something else in the UK?

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Alison_L]

My understanding is that is is narrowing of the LCA (left coronary artery). Some people refer to it as the LMCA (m = main).

[Prada47 in reply to Alison_L]

I think Left Main Disease is short for Left Anterior Descending Artery narrowing or blockage CHD !!!

Regards

[Dovaston in reply to Prada47]

Don't think so it's LCA Left Main not LAD ?

[Ianc2]

Otherwise commonly known as 'The Widow Maker'.

[Philippa_BHF]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to step in...In a very brief nutshell,when we talk about left main disease, we're talking about the left main stem (you may hear this described as the LMS).

This is where the left anterior descending artery( LAD) and circumflex artery join and then branch so the LAD supplies the front( anterior ) part of the heart muscle and the circumflex goes around the back, although the blood supply to the whole heart is very clever ( and complicated).

Where they 'join' is the 'main stem' ( medical term is the 'bifurcation'), bit like a tree branch, so if that is where a narrowing happens and/ or a blood clot forms, a heart attack that happens here potentially cuts off the blood supply to the much of the heart muscle and causes significant damage.

Hope that's clarified things a little.

[Prada47 in reply to Philippa_BHF]

Yes thank you,

I really like it when you pop into a discussion and clarify something. I see now why the Cardiologist said I want to have a look at the back of your heart,