Nghe An General Friendship Hospital successfully performed the first 'Cardio-Coronary Bypass' surgery

On April 16, patient Le Van R, male, 67 years old, came toNghe An General Friendship Hospitalin a state of severe left chest pain; pain spreading to the left arm; pain increased with difficulty breathing. The patient was admitted to the emergency room with the diagnosis: Acute myocardial infarction.

After being resuscitated, the patient was treated by doctors at the Cardiovascular Center ofNghe An General Friendship HospitalCoronary angiography is indicated for examination and emergency intervention.

The patient suffered damage to all three main branches of the coronary artery. Photo: Nhat Huy

The results showed that the patient had damage to all three main branches of the coronary artery: severe stenosis of the left coronary artery trunk (85%); near occlusion of the circumflex artery segments I and II; severe stenosis of the anterior interbody artery ostium (90%) and severe stenosis of the bifurcation artery branch (90%).

With severe damage to all three main branches of the coronary artery, coronary stenting is considered difficult and high-risk. Interventional cardiologists consulted with doctors from the Department of Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, Nghe An General Hospital and with leading experts at the central level.

Accordingly, the hospital agreed to perform a bypass surgery to connect the aorta to the coronary artery through the stenosis by using autologous blood vessels as a bridge. This is a bypass surgery method on coronary arteries that are severely narrowed or blocked and cannot be stented.

On the morning of May 7, 2022, with the coordination of leading experts at the Central level and a team of doctors from the Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Nghe An General Hospital performed the first aortic-coronary bypass surgery in Nghe An province.

The team of doctors from the Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Nghe An General Hospital performed a coronary artery bypass surgery. Photo: Nhat Huy

The surgical team was divided into two teams and performed the surgery simultaneously and smoothly. One team opened the chest and took the internal mammary artery, the other team took the autologous vein from the calf. After setting up with the extracorporeal circulation machine and stopping the heart, the surgical team made three bridges from the aorta to the coronary artery using autologous veins from both calves.

The surgery went smoothly, lasting 4 hours with close coordination between surgeons, anesthesiologists, resuscitators, and cardiopulmonary bypass surgeons.

Coronary artery bypass surgery is considered a specialized and complicated surgery in open heart surgery, requiring in addition to the preparation for a normal open heart surgery, the surgical team must be highly trained, coordinating many specialties such as: cardiac and vascular surgeons, anesthesiologists, operating extracorporeal circulation machines, intensive care with full modern and synchronous equipment.

Coronary artery bypass grafting is considered a specialized and complex surgery in open heart surgery. Photo: Nhat Huy

Four days after surgery, the patient recovered, walked and lived normally, under the supervision and care of the medical team, doctors and nurses of the Cardiovascular Surgery Department - Nghe An General Hospital.

Master Pham Van Chung - Deputy Head of the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Nghe An General Hospital, shared the joy of the new technique being successfully performed at the hospital: "The fact that Nghe An General Hospital successfully performed coronary artery bypass surgery for the first time is a great step forward, marking an important milestone in the field of open heart surgery in Nghe An, bringing better treatment opportunities for patients in the field of heart and vascular surgery."

Patient Le Van R emotionally said: “For more than a year now, I have been having chest pain and difficulty breathing when I exert myself. When I was admitted to the hospital, my family and I thought I would not survive. However, more than a week after this surgery, I was able to return to normal activities. Currently, the hospital has been able to perform such advanced techniques, which has truly created favorable conditions for patients with heart diseases in Nghe An and neighboring provinces.”

Four days after surgery, the patient recovered, walked and lived normally. Photo: Nhat Huy

Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyen Van Huong - Director of Nghe An General Friendship Hospital said: "Over the years, the development of expertise and techniques, especially specialized and cutting-edge techniques, has always been the hospital's top priority, to be worthy of being the North Central Regional Hospital.

In the field of Cardiology, in addition to coronary artery disease treatment methods such as internal medicine, coronary artery stenting, now with the implementation of advanced coronary artery bypass surgery techniques, the Cardiology Center, Nghe An General Hospital has perfected coronary artery disease treatment methods, bringing better medical examination and treatment opportunities for patients in Nghe An and other provinces in the region in specialized cardiovascular diseases. True to the hospital's development motto over the past time, that is: "Top quality - In-depth development - Elevating to new heights"./.