Ischaemic heart disease and coronary artery atherosclerosis

[Namechangenumber2000]

My dad died suddenly. He'd been in and out the hosp with mystery pains since January. Last ecg and xray of lungs and heart showed no issues. Post mortem came back with Ischaemic heart disease and coronary artery atherosclerosis. Had a Google and it should've been picked up with his many ecgs and xrays and blood tests ect. Spoke to gp and they said its weird nothing came up and is opening an investigation into what went wrong. Dad was told it wasn't life threating.

Anyone else had anything similar?

Also if they had found it they would've been able to "fix" it. So I feel he died a preventable death

I'm so sorry for the loss of your dad OP. How old was he? I am not a doctor but my understanding is that chest pain should be thoroughly investigated as it is a red flag for heart problems. I think you are doing the right thing to press for answers, as it may help you to understand what happened or help someone else in future of mistakes were made. Was your dad under the care of a hospital doctor, in which case you could also contact PALS at the hospital?

He was in blue lighted by ambulance 4 times since January they couldn't find a cause. His last visit was only 3 weeks ago and that found nothing. He was 70 very fit never smoked. He didn't even look 70. He was also seeing the gp. They kept giving him heartburn stuff and laxatives. He even had a dye test 3 days before he passed and that showed nothing too.

I don't think the tests are perfect. You could ask to see the tests.

What do you hope to get to, better understanding or an actual apology if something was overlooked?

Honestly I don't know. The gp herself said something isn't right. If the heart disease was as advanced as the post mortem says it should of shown up. If they had found it he would still be here its a treatable thing.

An ECG and an X-ray will only show what is happening at the time they are taken.

An ECG shows the electrical activity of the heart which can show ischemia but only while it is stopping oxygen to the heart. It is possible (it is rare) to have a completely normal ECG while the heart is not working at all.

An X-ray doesn't show the coronary arteries at all.

By a 'dye test' do you mean an angiogram? That should show a narrowing of the coronary arteries but again only if it was present at the time. Some people don't have a permeant narrowing, it can be something that comes and goes so you can only see it if it is happening at the time.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Do follow up on any thing that they may have missed but also be prepared there might be nothing that showed on any tests.

Did he have a heart attack? I'm sorry to hear of the sudden death. My dear friends mother had the same and she was only in her 60s. It was a shock

Yes he did. He was having pains every day since January almost every day

His heart from the post mortem is narrowed badly norrowed

I’m so sorry for your loss Op. Did he have an echocardiogram (like a heart scan)?
If so I am really surprised nothing was picked up.

He was waiting on the appointment for heart scan as his 1sg got cancelled as they lost his notes

I’m really sorry Op, that is so sad, it probably would have showed the blood flow (or lack of). I really hope you can find some peace at this sad time, the grief never leaves you but it softens and changes and becomes bearable eventually

His heart from the post mortem is narrowed badly norrowed

Do you mean the coronary arteries?

I’m really sorry Op, that is so sad, it probably would have showed the blood flow (or lack of).

An echo can show the blood flow through the valves but not the coronary arteries. Echos look at the gross structures so thickness of heart walls, valves etc.

My dad was the same op, he was 52 and he passed 3 years ago. PM showed CAA but he was being treated for acute heartburn. I was very angry and searched for answers for a while.

He had that many tests and ecgs. Surely something should've shown up. The doctor even said so.

He had that many tests and ecgs. Surely something should've shown up. The doctor even said so.

Ischemia only shows up on an ECG if you record it during the ischemia and even then it doesn't always show up.

The narrowed arteries should have shown on an angiogram but again only if they are narrowed at the tie. Most of the time it's a build up that narrows the arteries but it can be a 'spasm' which again only shows if that is happening.

Sorry OP I'm not trying to undermine you or make excuses, I don't know what happened but this used to be my job so I'm trying to give you relevant information. I'm sorry for your loss, I really am.

No no I get it. That's what I need is answers so thank you. Xx

My sibling died at 47 of a heart attack due to undiagnosed heart disease. It was a shock when we got the report as we had no idea. I'm sorry you lost your dad in a similar way, it's awful to find out when it is too late.

Sorry for your loss.

I had a call today the coroner has concluded my mums cause of death was ischemic heart disease, she'd never had a chest pain, palpation or shortness of breath, ever. And her death was so sudden, she was talking to a friend on the drive and collapsed and never woke up.

Its such a frustrating thing, I really feel for you. I've found it hard to come to terms with. Ischemic heart disease is one of the leading causes of death.

Thank you everyone. Been to the funeral directors today to sort all that out. I'm knackered now.