help please.

[philip169]

hi I had a quad bypass in april 2017 I have been getting some problems over the last 3-4 months leg swelling, short of breath, and a dull pain in my chest. I have had an Echocardiogram. today got a letter saying that overall the pumping function of your heart is reasonable. it is possible in one area that the pumping function is slightly reduced and this may be secondary to your bypass surgery I have written to your gp asking him to start an ACE inhibitor. what does this mean?

thanks

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hi Phillip,

An Ace inhibitor reduces angiotensin II. This protein constricts the muscles around your blood vessels causing then to contract and thus increasing your blood pressure. These little pills thus ease the blood pressure making it easier for your heart to pump.

Hopefully they will alleviate your issues, though there are irritating side effects in one, ramipril, a very dry cough.

Take care Mark

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

ACE inhibitors (usually called *pril) are very effective drugs. As mentioned one side-effect can be a dry cough - they also have one good side effect in that they help protect the kidneys. You do not mention what other drugs you are on I have had issues with CCIs (calcium channel inhibitors) which caused bad swelling around the ankles and lower leg.

[BAGS17]

Philip My Quad CABG was undertaken in late May 17 so almost 12 months down the line now. I have had a swollen right leg (the harvest vein site) since surgery, which concerned me initially but my GP explained that its most likely the result of the removal of the great saphenous vein (the one that is used for coronary artery grafts) and the need for lower limb blood having to find an alternate vein route back to ones heart. After strenuous exercise the swelling sometimes gets worse but resting with the limb elevated usually improves the situation. However my GP did say that walking is the best way to improve vein blood flow and thus reduce the swelling.

I'm not on an ACE inhibitor however so cannot comment in that regard.