How long can you live with blocked arteries
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Longevity with Blocked Arteries: Insights from Research
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) and Long-Term Survival
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a common surgical intervention for patients with blocked arteries. Research indicates that the long-term survival rates post-CABG can be significant. For instance, a study involving 348,341 patients aged 65 and older showed that the mortality rate was 3.2% at 30 days, 6.4% at 180 days, 8.1% at 1 year, and 23.3% at 3 years post-surgery. This suggests that while the immediate post-operative period carries some risk, many patients can live several years following the procedure.
Quality of Life Post-CABG
Quality of life is another critical factor to consider. A ten-year follow-up study comparing medical therapy and CABG found that initially, patients who underwent surgery experienced better angina relief and increased activity levels. However, by the ten-year mark, the differences between the surgical and medical groups diminished, with both groups showing similar levels of angina and activity limitations. This indicates that while CABG can provide significant short-term benefits, the long-term quality of life may eventually align with those who receive medical therapy.
Impact of Ejection Fraction on Survival
The ejection fraction, a measure of how well the heart pumps blood, also plays a crucial role in determining survival outcomes. Patients with reduced ejection fractions (between 0.34 and 0.50) and triple-vessel disease showed improved survival rates with CABG compared to medical therapy. Specifically, a seven-year follow-up revealed an 88% survival rate for surgical patients versus 65% for those treated medically . This highlights the importance of surgical intervention in patients with significant heart function impairment.
Left Main Coronary Artery Disease
Patients with left main coronary artery disease, a severe form of coronary artery blockage, also benefit significantly from surgical intervention. A study of 145 patients with more than 50% obstruction of the left main coronary artery found that those who underwent surgery had a one-year survival rate of 82%, compared to 61% for those treated medically. This underscores the life-saving potential of timely surgical intervention in severe cases.
Conclusion
In summary, the longevity of patients with blocked arteries can be significantly extended through surgical interventions like CABG, especially in those with severe blockages or reduced heart function. While the immediate post-operative period carries some risk, many patients can live several years post-surgery with a reasonable quality of life. However, the long-term benefits in terms of quality of life may diminish over time, aligning more closely with those receiving medical therapy. Therefore, timely and appropriate surgical intervention is crucial for improving survival rates in patients with severe coronary artery disease.
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