Save a prayer for my dad... - Page 3

KFC911 · 03-17-2008, 12:49 PM

Hang in there Z-man, sending prayers for both of you...please don't be scared.

KaptKaos · 03-17-2008, 12:52 PM

Prayers sent.

Joeaksa · 03-17-2008, 01:10 PM

Will hold the thought for him...

Tim Hancock · 03-17-2008, 01:35 PM

Tis the season....my best friend's dad along with my wife's father are both in the hospital for probable open heart surgery...... very scary, but fortunately it seems doctors are getting pretty good at this kind of stuff.

Keep you're chin up and hope for the best!

carmad · 03-17-2008, 01:43 PM

Z-Man,
Sorry to hear about your fathers illness and hope things improve.
I have been in cardiac surgery for almost 25 years as a Clinical Perfusionist, and we operate on octagenarian patients all the time with good results.

However, even with your fathers history of multiple stents and AICD implant, if he has no carotid disease,or history of stroke, no other significant co-morbidities, such as diabetes, renal problems, or poor lungs, and has a good mental status, he may be a candidate for surgery, if he wants it.

Yes, his risks are increased due to previous history and advanced age but it is not uncommon for patients of this age and similar disease to undergo surgery.
If the coronary arteries are of a good diameter distal to the blockages then they would be able to attach vein grafts. Obviously once your family meets with the surgeon he will be able to fill you in on the options.

As someone mentioned in an earlier post, if surgery is an option do not go to a hospital that only does 150 -200 surgeries a year, go somewhere that does 400-500+. Post-op care is very important, you want ICU nurses who do this everyday, not just once or twice a week. Also, make sure they use endoscopic vein harvesting techniques, as opposed to just cut-down technique for removing the vein. The post op leg pain is much reduced and they heal quicker.
Good Luck.

GothingNC · 03-17-2008, 01:53 PM

More prayers being sent from my family.

Tim Hancock · 03-17-2008, 02:29 PM

[QUOTE=carmad;3833481]

As someone mentioned in an earlier post, if surgery is an option do not go to a hospital that only does 150 -200 surgeries a year, go somewhere that does 400-500+. QUOTE]

I was told the same by my brother in law who his a doctor. My wife's dad just got moved to U of M's hospital just for this reason.

peppy · 03-17-2008, 02:45 PM

Done.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

done and done. Hope all goes well.

speedracing944 · speedracing944's Garage

Your father is in our prayers.

Speedy

MT930 · 03-17-2008, 04:33 PM

In our thoughts and prayers. To your Dad and Family.

LakeCleElum · 03-17-2008, 04:55 PM

Many condolences......You brought back some tough memories when you said they could "lose him on the table". That's how my Dad left this world in 1996 during his 3rd open heart surgery. He was 71.

On the positive side, they have made many medical advances since then. Have hope. I have 4 nurses in my family; inclucding my mother before she retired.

Icemaster · Icemaster's Garage

Pulling for your dad and family - our best to you all.....

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Thank you all for your prayers and support.

I spoke with the surgeon this afternoon regarding bypass surgery - he says given my dad's age and condition, there is a 75 - 80% chance of success. Or, a 20-25% chance of failure. IE: that's 20x the failure rate of someone who is around 60-65 years of age and in good health. My dad feels that risk is too great right now. Is he right? Or is that 20-25% risk worth taking?!?! (That's the $1,000,000 question)

Other options are:
As stated before - keep him on blood thinners. That would mean he could get a heart attack is days, weeks, or months. Not the best prognosis.
They may be able to perform an emergency stent operation -- but this is just about as risky as the bypass surgery, since they would have to put a stent into one of the bigger artieries and very close to the heart. (Sorry I can't elaborate - that's all I can understand...)

That said, right now, my dad is at Lakeland Regional hospital in Lakeland, FL. He and my mom agree that we need to seek a second opinion. The doctors advise against bringing him up to NY - too far for his condition. But there are two options in Florida: there's a hospital in Sarasota, FL about 1.5 hours away, and there's the mayo clinic in Jacksonville, about 3 hours away. Can anyone here suggest another place in Central Florida that we should look into? I do not plan on taking my dad on a whirwind concert tour of Florida, but I wish to look into as many options as possible before taking him anywhere.

Carmad: both my father and I agree with your logic - getting the opinion of a place that does 400-500 of these types of operations a year will give us a better idea of what we are facing, and what chances we have of my dad pulling through. They may give him a 90-95% chance of success. Odds my dad can live with.

That said, I feel that getting a second opinion is vital right now. Even if they can't improve the chances of success, at least we have done what we could. If we don't seek a second opinion, I would never be able to forgive myself for not trying.

When I came home, I played tennis (I'm a sub for a group of ladies that play on courts near my house). I told my dad this -- he was very happy that I did this. I also told him - that though we are all saddened by this turn of events, we all need to put our sadness aside as much as possible, and follow through with all logical options. I do not want to foster a false sense of hope for my father, my family or myself, but we all need to proceed with a clear head. (easier said than done...)

My dad told me this: "Son, when I pass on, I ask that you take care of my wife, your mother. When Christ hung on the cross, he told his closest disciple to take care of His mother -- I now ask you to do the same..."

Kim (Mrs. Z-man) and I will be flying down to Florida tomorrow. to see what possibilities there are for us all...

Thanks,
-Zoltan.

Hugh R · 03-17-2008, 06:19 PM

Hang in there Z

My Dad went at 60 I hope yours is around for many more.

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

z...will keep all of you in my prayers. the mayo clinic in jax, fl sounds like it might be worth the extra 1.5 hour drive. what about hospitals in miami? i worked at the university of miami for sevral years...some top-notch medical facilities in the area for sure.

lisa_spyder · 03-17-2008, 06:42 PM

Zoltan,

Jump on that plane. Once you are there with your Mum and Dad face to face it will be easier to review all options and look for solutions.

We're thinking of you and your family down here - sending positive thoughts for all of you.

It is 5 years ago today I lost my Dad. If I could have worked a miracle to keep him here in good health I would have.

Go do the best you can for your Dad - for if the shoe was on the other foot...

Best wishes,

Lisa

911 in SC · 03-17-2008, 06:50 PM

My prayers are with you Z-man, and your family. May God's will be done.

lm6y · 03-17-2008, 07:16 PM

Thinkin' 'bout all of you Zman.

Best of luck.

Joeaksa · 03-17-2008, 07:29 PM

Agree with the previous comments. My ex-wife does this for a living and they would do 4-5 operations a day. Thats a lot for any hospital but they were good at it.

Things have changed a lot in the last 10 years, even in the last 3-5 years. Find a chest cutter who has done a lot of them (artplumber, a member here might help) and do it on a Tue-Thursday in the morning. Mondays, Fridays or late in the afternoon is not the best time unless there is no other option. Trust me on this one. Anyone gets tired and makes mistakes, even heart surgeons.