After 6 stints , is bypass surgery usually the next step?

My Dad who is 75 years old has had two surgerys first one he got 4 stints, then a year or so later he had 2 more stints Now his cardiologist reccomends another angiogram because he believes my Dad had another blockage. And he said that he may need bypass surgery

One of the major factors regarding need for bypass surgery is the locations of the previous stents. Many times, stents can be placed distal to (further down the vessel) a previous stent. Bypass surgery is necessary if a vessel can not be opened with a stent. If you have further questions, by all means ask your Dad's cardiologist. And wish your Dad well for me.

Get a second opinion, but yes, after all the stents, it looks like your Dad is headed in that directon.

Agree with earlier. It depends on where they are and where in which vessels. Talk to the doc about it and talk to another about it too. It happens all the time in my hospital. Not that the docs are missing things but there are different skill levels and comfort levels of the interventionalists. After six and at 75, if he's strong enough then he may need the surgery. Jeff the nurse in Nashville.

Wow, 6 stents huh, thats a lot! Well if your dad's had gotten those stents a number of years ago he probably has something called in-stent restenosis. This usually occurs with older stents because back they were just bare metal opposed to the newer drug eluting stents. What might happen if he has some restenosis in a vessel the doc might have to reballoon the old stent and put a more up to date drug eluting stent. However, there is a possibility that he will go to surgery to get a bypass depending the occlusion location and severity and on the CT surgeon. Good luck with whichever situation occurs. And if he gets another stent you may just call your dad the 6 million dollar man....lol