How to improve heart function after a stent placement?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mother had a heart attack four years back. She had a blockage of the left ascending artery and got it surgically corrected with a stent. She is also a diabetic patient. So please suggest to me how to improve her heart function with medicines. Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern. Heart muscle weakens after a heart attack if the patient is noncompliant with medicines. However, after a heart attack, if a timely angioplasty or bypass is done and medicines are taken as prescribed, then the weakening of the heart is uncommon. After the heart muscle becomes weak, it can even be reversed in some cases if medicines are taken. However, if not changed, then depending upon ejection fraction, an ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) is implanted, or a CRT (cardiac resynchronization therapy) device is implanted.

First, tell me what her ejection fraction (send me an echocardiography report) is. Secondly, what medicines and dosage is she taking, and for how long? Thirdly, what are her symptoms? Also, she should be sent baseline lab tests, including CBC (complete blood count), serum urea, creatinine, and electrolytes. Is her blood sugar level under control, and on what medicine?

Please provide this information so that I may guide you regarding proper medicines and dosages, arrange follow-up, and guide you accordingly. I hope this helps. Thank you and take care.