Is it possible for a weak heart to regain strength if a person has already had two bypass operations 10 years apart?
A weak heart may result from a number of conditions — some of which are reversible and some, unfortunately, not. People who have had coronary artery bypass operations still may have significant disease in their coronary arteries. In such people, a weak heart may be the result of a prior heart attack, in which some heart muscle has been replaced by scar tissue. If heart function is reduced by scar tissue, it is not reversible.
Some people with coronary artery disease may have heart muscle that doesn’t get enough blood flow to function normally, but the muscle is still alive. This condition is known as “hibernating myocardium” (sleeping heart muscle). In such cases, heart function may be improved by increasing the blood flow to the myocardium with bypass surgery or angioplasty. Improvement may occur several months after the procedure, so early results don’t always predict the long-term outcome.
Finally, in many people with weakened hearts in which pumping function can’t be restored, treatments are available that may help remaining viable heart muscle to function more efficiently. This is usually done with medications such as ACE inhibitors and sometimes beta blockers.