Surgery considerations for people who have chest pain
Many people with heart failure who also have significant chest pain are candidates for surgery to restore blood flow (revascularization). Severe chest pain usually is a sign that large areas of heart muscle are deprived of oxygen.
Angiography is recommended unless surgery is not an option.
Factors that may indicate that the risk of surgery is too great include:
- Other severe diseases, such as kidney failure, severe lung disease, cancer, or severe stroke.
- A very low ejection fraction, which indicates a severely damaged and weakened heart.
- Life expectancy (due to other diseases) of 1 year or less or advanced age.
| Author | Robin Parks, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Associate Editor | Terrina Vail |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
| Last Updated | September 1, 2006 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
September 01, 2006
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