93-year-old man's life saved thanks to timely coronary stent placement.
A critical case of myocardial infarction in a 93-year-old man was recently successfully treated by doctors at Vinh City General Hospital using coronary stent placement, giving the elderly patient a precious chance at survival.
Mr. PHX (residing in Hung Nguyen, Nghe An) was admitted to the hospital with intermittent left chest pain lasting 10-15 minutes, accompanied by shortness of breath. The patient had a history of previous interventricular artery stenting.
However, unusually, both initial cardiac enzyme tests and imaging studies were within normal limits. Just one day after admission, the patient suddenly experienced severe chest pain unrelated to exertion, a rapid drop in blood pressure, and bradycardia. Clinical parameters showed significant changes: elevated cardiac enzymes, altered electrocardiogram – clear signs of acute myocardial infarction, accompanied by cardiogenic shock.
The medical team immediately provided emergency treatment and held a hospital-wide consultation. Simultaneously, the hospital collaborated with experts from the Hanoi Heart Hospital to develop the optimal intervention plan. The patient underwent coronary angiography using a state-of-the-art 2-plane DSA system – one of the leading technologies currently available. The results showed severe narrowing of the circumflex artery (LCx), ranging from 95–99%.
Immediately after detecting the coronary artery lesion, the team proceeded to place a stent at the narrowed site. Thanks to timely and accurate treatment, the patient quickly stabilized hemodynamically, experienced reduced chest pain, and recovered well after the intervention.
Dr. Thai Van Thuat, a member of the intervention team and coronary intervention unit, shared: “This was a truly challenging case because the patient was very elderly, had previously undergone coronary intervention, the access route was difficult, and there was a high risk of bleeding. The acute situation required quick and accurate coordination from the entire team.”
The success of this technique at Vinh City General Hospital stems from a significant investment in a 2-plane digital subtraction angiography (DSA) system – one of the most modern devices currently available, meeting the standards of major cardiovascular centers. This system provides clear images, assisting doctors in performing complex procedures with high accuracy.
In particular, collaboration with experts from Hanoi Heart Hospital – one of Vietnam's leading cardiovascular centers – has significantly contributed to improving the quality of treatment. The hospital's team of doctors, with specialized training at central-level institutions and support from leading experts, have mastered cardiovascular intervention techniques, providing effective and safe treatment for patients.
Over the past period, Hanoi Heart Hospital has collaborated with Vinh City General Hospital in the specialized examination and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Recently, we successfully performed over 30 coronary angiography, angioplasty, and stent placement procedures there. With a modern cardiovascular intervention system (2-plane DSA) and an experienced team of specialists, I believe that Vinh City General Hospital will soon master the technique and implement it effectively in the near future.
Hanoi Heart Hospital will continue to collaborate and provide regular professional support to Vinh City General Hospital to improve the quality of cardiovascular treatment for people in Nghe An and the surrounding areas.”
Dr. Hoang Van - Deputy Director of Hanoi Heart Hospital
This success is a positive sign, opening up opportunities for elderly patients in the locality to access modern cardiovascular intervention techniques right at the provincial level; reducing the need for referrals to higher-level hospitals, minimizing the risk of treatment delays, saving costs, and creating favorable conditions for patients.
In the near future, Vinh City General Hospital will continue to cooperate comprehensively with major cardiovascular centers nationwide to transfer advanced techniques in this field and proactively implement them at the hospital.
