Hi,I am Dr. Prabhakar Koregol (Cardiologist). I will be looking into your question and guiding you through the process. Please write your question below.
Could Gangrene In Extremities Following A Heart Attack Despite Drugs Have Been Prevented?
My sister had to have 2 open heart surgeries (back to back). In the process she had a heart attack. She was given a life saving drug which causes blood to be brought to major organs for life support. Extrementies do not receive the blood needed. She has developed dry gangrene and will have to have both legs amputated above the knees. Was there any other medicine or thing the drs could gave given her or done to have prevented this?
From your description it appears she was on ionotropic agents. It shunts the blood to important organs away from the peripheral organs like limbs and it's a side effect of these drug but it is necessary for survival of the patient. So it's important to provide blood to important organs and protect them at cost of peripheral and it's important for life. So had to choose between the two and we usually go it.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards, Dr. Sagar Makode
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Could Gangrene In Extremities Following A Heart Attack Despite Drugs Have Been Prevented?
Hello, From your description it appears she was on ionotropic agents. It shunts the blood to important organs away from the peripheral organs like limbs and it s a side effect of these drug but it is necessary for survival of the patient. So it s important to provide blood to important organs and protect them at cost of peripheral and it s important for life. So had to choose between the two and we usually go it. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Sagar Makode