What is the life expectancy for triple vessel coronary disease with diabetics?
Patient: Wondering the life expectancy of an 81 year old male with the following - thank you - triple vessel coronary disease. Because of his age, diabetes and renal function bypass surgery is not an option. Dr feels as thou the Rt Coronary artery is the culprit vessel. It has two blockages in the Rt Coronary Artery. The artery is very large. He fixed both of those blockages with balloons and a stent. Excellent results. Because of his kidney function we can’t give him any more contrast (dye) today. The other two arteries with blockages are very small diabetic arteries, significant disease but difficult to get to the blockages with balloons and stents not worth chasing right now. He wants to keep him over night. See how he does for the next few weeks and possibly stage the other two arteries down the road. Doctor: Hello ,Your doctor is quite right in all the decisions he has taken . opening up the culprit large size artery will help us tide over the crisis . Also at 81 years , This might be enough along with medication to help him live a normal life free of any symptoms.  If at a later date in spite of optimisation of medicines he still has symptoms which impairs his quality of life , one may go for an elective angioplasty for left side vessels . There is no way that one can predict the life . Considering that acute crisis has been tied over and if there is not much damage to the heart muscle he should do good for at least short of some years . also we have to understand that angioplasty is not going to improve his lifespan , but would give him a better quality of life .Regards Dr. Priyank Mody