Failed Triple Bypass Graft

[Cowboy999]

Hi. I had triple bypass 4 weeks ago. However, last Saturday I had mild heart attack and it seems one of the veinal grafts has failed. Angiogram shows that i am now relying on the original native coronary artery to continue doing its job. It is sufficiently open to accomodate this. I now begin to worry about the other two grafts although on of them is the native mammary artery wich should be fine. Anyone else been in the same position? Thks

[mattychd]

Hi,

I had a quad bypass in October and 2 weeks afterwards one of my grafts failed. The consultant said it was a 50/50 graft that 50% would have done it and 50% would have left it so it had a high chance of failure. He said the others looked fine though and so far I believe they’re working fine.

I try not to dwell on it. There’s not a lot I can do. If they’re going to fail then they’ll fail but I’ve never seen any posts of anyone that’s had more than one fail so hopefully that’s the bad luck out of the way and onwards with your recovery.

Thanks,

Matt

[Cowboy999 in reply to mattychd]

Thats good to hear and good advice. I also believe that my failed graft was a 50/50 which somehow makes its failure less frightening. I need to focus on recovery from the main surgery. All the very best Matt. Thanks for taking the time to post. F

[Chappychap]

I'm sorry to hear this, a fairly high percentage of grafts fail within the first year, I've heard figures quoted around the 20% mark. However, the more positive news is that the mammary graft is pretty much bullet proof (interestingly for reasons that aren't yet fully understood), which is why it's used in the single most important location.

Some people on this forum, who have been in your situation, have been quite despondent, wondering if the stress and risk of open heart surgery was worth it. But getting that mammary arterial graft justifies the procedure in itself.

Good luck!

[Cowboy999 in reply to Chappychap]

Hi Chappy..... I appreciate you taking the time to reply. You are right. The mammary graft is worth the procedure alone. To be honest I have had a fairly painless experience......even with the heart attack last Saturday. I have been wondering if bypass patients have regular screening to check on the viability of their grafts? Annually? I intend having a good talk with my cardiologist. More questions after the procedure than before! Best wihez to you. Francis

[Butcharts]

I had a similar issue. I had a quad CABG in August 2015. I am a keen skier and spent the following winter in Austria recuperating. However, I gradually found my breathing becoming more laboured, and by March 2016, after consulting the local Austrian GP, I was sent off to hospital for checks. Was immediately given an angiogram and they found that 3 of my 4 grafts had failed. They were all vein grafts from my arm and leg except for the surviving mammary graft. Superb treatment and received a total of 7 stents in my original arteries with two sessions of angioplasty a few days apart.

Have been fortunate to stay pretty healthy until spring 2020, when I started to struggle a bit with breathing again.

Another session of angioplasty at hospital in Edinburgh, this time with 2 more stents inserted. Still enjoying my skiing, and writing this from Austria. 73 birthday in a couple of weeks and just feel very lucky what medical science has been able to do to keep me going. 😊

[Cowboy999 in reply to Butcharts]

Hi B... Thanks for writing a reply. You must be aiming for some type of record😀! Thats an impressive level of stenting. It is reassuring to hear that despite the limitations of veinal grafts the technology does provide "fixes" and can do so fairly easily. Getting replies from those who have been through this is great. Jealous of you in Austria! Keep well. Ta. Francis.