Hey everyone. I just found out my 59 year old Dad needs a 5 vessel CABG. Understandably, both as his oldest daughter & an RN, I'm very concerned! Dad's a NIDDM type 2, mostly diet controlled, though his doc just started him on glipzide 5 mg po QD. No hx htn according to Dad, but he has just recently developed some exercise induced angina pain.Cariologist started him on beta blocker (toprol) few days ago after CP induced on stress test. Also was given prn ntg rx. He had heart cath this am (he lives out of state & my step mom tells me the info) & docs say he needs a 5 vessel CABG.
I don't get many post CABG on my floor, as I work med/tele/renal and we only get post EP study, post heart cath, post pacers, more stable teles. I have floated to step down, and I've seen post CABG, but not really knowing what to expect. My memory is, anyone needing multivessel CABG has some serious cardiac dz & comorbidities.I did some internet searches & it looks grim, with his DM and family hx of cardiac dz (his dad died of MI, older sis had MI x4 and also has DM).
My husband & I are flying out to be with Dad & family in a day or two.In the meanwhile, I'm feeling mixed emotions. On one hand, glad they caught this before an MI (Dad says his cardiologist states no cardiac muscle damage). Though I don't know any details, getting it all second hand. Don't know if LAD is blocked & how much, don't know ej. fraction.
Dad used to smoke for 20+ years, but has been compliant w/ diabetic diet & non smoker for 10 years.Blood sugars recently "high" per Dad at 150s (and just started glipizide). Excercises regularly. Not overweight- never has been more than 20 lbs overweight. 5 ft 10, 160 lb now.High stress job, though. Owns his own business & has been working 14 hr days.
I am going to be supportive, strong & put on a happy face for Dad, but I am very worried! Even with surgery going well w/o complications, I wonder what the post surg. survival rate is for multivessel dz & DM? The internet info I read looked grim. Anybody have any tips or words of hope? He's only 59, and I don't want to lose him.
Hi Kona....I'm sorry to hear about your Dad, but I do agree with MollyMo on pretty much everything. You really should get pre-op teaching so you know what to expect. I work on a CV surgical unit, and we have MANY diabetic patients who go through bypass surgery! Makes sense, since being a diabetic does put a person at higher risk for cardiovascular problems. These patients do absolutely wonderful after surgery. What is absolutely key is keeping those blood sugars under control. High blood sugars put a person at higher risk for infection and they won't heal as well as a non-diabetic, which I'm sure you and you're Dad are both aware of. In my facility diabetic patients are put on insulin drips for 3 days minimum, both IDDM and NIDDM, in order to keep very tight control of their blood glucose levels. Our goal is to keep them under 130, believe it or not! I just wanted to let you know that our small hospital performs 1000 cardiac surgeries a year, I see MANY diabetics go through this who have had more risk factors than your Dad (i.e. previous MI, low EF, etc.) and have really done wonderfully. Research the hospital and the surgeons if you can, and take care of yourself! Good luck and I'll be thinking of you and your Dad. :kiss
Just so you know my dad had a 4 vessel CABG 2 years ago at age 46. He had 2 MI's and never knew it. He went to the ER because he thought he pulled a muscle in his back playing golf, and he could barely lift his arm. Well they did the MI workup just in case. His cardiac enzymes were out the roof sothey did a cardic cath that night and then took him to emergency by-pass.
Well he stayed in the hospital for 5 days. Did a month of cardiac rehab and now is doing great. So see everything can turn out great. I will be thinking about you and your family.
Dad's a NIDDM type 2, mostly diet controlled, though his doc just started him on glipzide 5 mg po QD. No hx htn according to Dad, but he has just recently developed some exercise induced angina pain.Cariologist started him on beta blocker (toprol) few days ago after CP induced on stress test. Also was given prn ntg rx. He had heart cath this am (he lives out of state & my step mom tells me the info) & docs say he needs a 5 vessel CABG.
Dazedgiggle
68 Posts
Hi Kona....I'm sorry to hear about your Dad, but I do agree with MollyMo on pretty much everything. You really should get pre-op teaching so you know what to expect. I work on a CV surgical unit, and we have MANY diabetic patients who go through bypass surgery! Makes sense, since being a diabetic does put a person at higher risk for cardiovascular problems. These patients do absolutely wonderful after surgery. What is absolutely key is keeping those blood sugars under control. High blood sugars put a person at higher risk for infection and they won't heal as well as a non-diabetic, which I'm sure you and you're Dad are both aware of. In my facility diabetic patients are put on insulin drips for 3 days minimum, both IDDM and NIDDM, in order to keep very tight control of their blood glucose levels. Our goal is to keep them under 130, believe it or not! I just wanted to let you know that our small hospital performs 1000 cardiac surgeries a year, I see MANY diabetics go through this who have had more risk factors than your Dad (i.e. previous MI, low EF, etc.) and have really done wonderfully. Research the hospital and the surgeons if you can, and take care of yourself! Good luck and I'll be thinking of you and your Dad. :kiss