A friend had a triple bypass not even a year ago but died of a heart attack ?

Question

I thought that being he had new valves that the chance of an attack not even a year later would have been lessened

Answer 1

It lessened the chances, but surgery is not an exact science because our bodies are not machines.  The time he lived after the operation was probably considerably more comfortable than before even if it didn't prolong his life for very long.

Answer 2

A valve replacement op isn't a bypass, and neither will stop a heart attack taking place in the future.

Answer 3

Although Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) is a great option for maximum revascularization, it's not perfect. The primary problem here is that people who need CABG, obviously, have risk factors to encourage Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). For example: family history of CAD, smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, poor diet, etc. If the main cause of the disease lies in their genetics (which, for the record, I've seen athletes with CAD), the bypass grafts have a lesser chance of staying open longer. In that scenario, the person may need PTCA or stenting in a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (which is also where people go when they're having a heart attack) after CABG. Unfortunately, when genetics are involved, there is a limit to how much can really be done for someone. The best they can do, is decrease their others risks: quit smoking, take medication for blood pressure / cholesterol, etc. and see their Cardiologist often.

A valve replacement is a completely different surgery... though sometimes done at the same time of CABG. Having only a valve replacement does not protect against heart attacks, though it would help if the person has Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) from an incompetent valve.

I hope that helps, and I'm sorry to hear about your friend.  

Answer 4

Valve replacement or a CABGS (Bypass) (two different things) does not mean he'll never have a heart attack. Medical intervention/medication can help lower that chance, but the risk will always be there.

The underlying factors that caused him to require the CABGS will always be there, although steps can be taken to reduce this, the risk will always remain.