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Why Is LAD Called The Widowmaker?
why is LAD called the widowmaker?
My husband had a stent put in the lad of his heart after a mild heart attack. It was said that was a widowmaker place. I was wondering about it. The blockage was in the base of the fork going into the heart which was opened when the stent was in place. But it had both forks blocked, from what I understand.
My husband had a stent put in the lad of his heart after a mild heart attack. It was said that was a widowmaker place. I was wondering about it. The blockage was in the base of the fork going into the heart which was opened when the stent was in place. But it had both forks blocked, from what I understand.
Tue, 3 Jan 2017
Hello and welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
LAD called as left anterior descending artery is one of the main arteries supplying the heart. Whenever there is blockages in its proximal part, whole of the heart area which it supplies is at risk and there is high risk of death.
That's the reason why it is called as widowmaker. You mentioned one of the blockages of the fork was opened, it may be due to blockage in the other stem. That is, left circumflex may not be more than 80%, and that might be the reason why it was not opened by your cardiologist.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Sagar Makode
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
LAD called as left anterior descending artery is one of the main arteries supplying the heart. Whenever there is blockages in its proximal part, whole of the heart area which it supplies is at risk and there is high risk of death.
That's the reason why it is called as widowmaker. You mentioned one of the blockages of the fork was opened, it may be due to blockage in the other stem. That is, left circumflex may not be more than 80%, and that might be the reason why it was not opened by your cardiologist.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Sagar Makode
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