Heart Bypass Surgery Better Than Angioplasty For Certain Patients
Undergoing an operation is no trivial task, and it’s one that most of us would like to avoid unless absolutely necessary. It is unpleasant, and also brings with it inherent risks. This has especially been the case with cases such as open heart bypass surgery, which will require a stay in ICU and a long, arduous recovery time. Unfortunately, it now seems that one procedure, coronary artery bypass, might be more essential for patients with coronary artery disease who have diabetes or are over 65 years old, according to a Stanford study.
For the average person with multiple vessel coronary artery disease, the long term survival rates are very similar for patients who undergo bypass surgery vs. those who undergo coronary angioplasty, a much easier and less invasive operation. Naturally then, most would rather have a stent put in than have bypass surgery if given the choice. However, a recent study from Stanford University Medical Center shows that this is not the case for older patients or those with diabetes. For patients with diabetes, the five year mortality rate for those with a bypass graft is 12%, but jumps to 20% for the patients who only received a stent. These results could greatly influence decision making of doctors and possibly prompt them to suggest a bypass when before they would have suggested a stent. The incidence of coronary artery disease is rising, and already requires over 100 billion in medical costs a year.
With so many cases a year, decisions made on the best course of treatment can have a significant economic impact on the medical industry, but more importantly they can have a huge impact on the quality of human life. Almost a million operations are done a year on patients with coronary artery disease, so an eight percent increase in survival after five years would mean the world to so many family members and loved ones. It is important that the possible outcomes are well known to everyone so that doctors can make the most informed decisions on which course of treatment is best, and survey results can be important in the process.
Author/Source: Stanford University Medical Center
Posted By Brian Bass
VTPP 435-502
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143127.php
For the average person with multiple vessel coronary artery disease, the long term survival rates are very similar for patients who undergo bypass surgery vs. those who undergo coronary angioplasty, a much easier and less invasive operation. Naturally then, most would rather have a stent put in than have bypass surgery if given the choice. However, a recent study from Stanford University Medical Center shows that this is not the case for older patients or those with diabetes. For patients with diabetes, the five year mortality rate for those with a bypass graft is 12%, but jumps to 20% for the patients who only received a stent. These results could greatly influence decision making of doctors and possibly prompt them to suggest a bypass when before they would have suggested a stent. The incidence of coronary artery disease is rising, and already requires over 100 billion in medical costs a year.
With so many cases a year, decisions made on the best course of treatment can have a significant economic impact on the medical industry, but more importantly they can have a huge impact on the quality of human life. Almost a million operations are done a year on patients with coronary artery disease, so an eight percent increase in survival after five years would mean the world to so many family members and loved ones. It is important that the possible outcomes are well known to everyone so that doctors can make the most informed decisions on which course of treatment is best, and survey results can be important in the process.
Author/Source: Stanford University Medical Center
Posted By Brian Bass
VTPP 435-502
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143127.php
posted by brianbass at 3:05 PM
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