Dr. Craig and Mr. Broadwater in “Bypass”

Mr Broadwater. How are we this morning?

Feelin' pretty good.

Well, I have some good news, and I have some bad. Two of the major vessels to your heart, the left anterior descending artery, and the circumflex artery, are 90% obstructed.

[stunned] But I feel fine.

You didn't feel "fine" when you had those chest pains walking up a flight of stairs, now did you?

Did I have a heart attack?

No, but when we put you on the treadmill, your electrocardiogram indicated ischemia. And the angiography - do you remember when we put the dye through the heart? Revealed obstructions... VERY serious obstructions.

[clutches his chest, breathing heavily] 90% obstructed?

[holds up a long rubber tube] Let me show you something, Mr Broadwater - what does this look like to you?

A rubber tube.

Arteries are tubes. They carry the blood and oxygen from the heart. Now, bear with me. If we obstruct the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain... [ties a tight knot in the tube] What do you think happens?

[gets up unsteadily] I-I don't believe this. I'm only 40 years old here. Doc, you...

[curtly, shouting] You're fat. You smoke. Your father died of a heart attack when he was 42.

But Doctor, there must be SOMETHING...

You are walking a tightrope, Mr Broadwater. If it isn't the stairs today, it'll be washing the car tomorrow, or bouncing your little boy on your knee - or, if you're lucky, when you're sleeping.

[sits back down weakly] Ohhhh, my dear God.

Now, for the good news. [pause] I'm going to save you.

How?

Triple bypass.

Surgery?

[nods firmly] We'll give you a few moments to think about it, notify your loved ones. Do I have your complete cooperation? [holds out his hand]

[shakes it half-heartedly] I guess so.

Excellent.