"I was in the hospital for about 30 minutes, and everything was done. It was so fast I barely realized I had just walked through the gates of death," Nguyen Anh Dung shared.

Dung leads an active lifestyle, playing pickleball for 3-4 hours weekly over five years. He had no prior history of cardiovascular disease, and his general health check-up six months prior showed normal results.

Following an intense training session where the weather rapidly shifted from scorching sun to sudden rain, Dung experienced severe chest pain and dizziness. Despite resting for about 20 minutes, the angina did not subside. He was taken to a clinic in District 7 for examination. Results indicated an acute myocardial infarction, prompting doctors to immediately contact FV Hospital for an emergency transfer.

FV Hospital’s cardiovascular emergency team. Photo: FV

Upon receiving the information, FV Hospital activated its cardiovascular "red alert" emergency protocol. Dr. Bui Thi Bich Hanh, a specialist from the Accident and Emergency Department, stated, "Thanks to coordination with the referring clinic, we understood the patient's condition and medications used, allowing us to prepare for the fastest possible reception and treatment, without wasting time."

The critical intervention to restore heart rhythm took less than 30 minutes. During the first 12 minutes in the emergency department, Dung underwent clinical examination and necessary tests. After two more minutes through a dedicated pathway, the patient was transferred directly to the Cathlab. There, the cardiovascular team performed the intervention in 13 minutes, successfully aspirating the thrombus and implanting a stent to restore blood flow to the heart.

Dr. Ho Minh Tuan, Head of Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology, who performed the intervention, explained, "When we inserted the catheter, we found a large blood clot, approximately 5-7 mm in diameter, completely blocking the blood vessel. The team had to use a specialized catheter to thoroughly aspirate the thrombus before placing the stent, ensuring a clear vessel lumen."

The total time from the patient's arrival at the hospital to the restoration of blood flow was only 27 minutes. This is significantly faster than the international golden standard of 90 minutes and surpassed FV Hospital's internal target of 70 minutes.

Dr. Ho Minh Tuan performs intervention to clear blood vessels, saving a patient from acute myocardial infarction. Photo: FV

After the intervention, Dung recovered well, was alert, and no longer experienced chest pain. Thanks to the timely treatment, his myocardial contractility returned to normal levels, with an LVEF of 70%. He shared, "I was in the hospital for less than 30 minutes, and the intervention was complete. It was so quick I didn't even realize I had just overcome danger. Before, I was quite complacent, thinking I was healthy. Now I understand that the heart doesn't offer a second chance if you delay."

Dr. Ho Minh Tuan examines the patient after the intervention. Photo: FV

Cardiology experts at FV Hospital warn that myocardial infarction is increasingly affecting younger individuals. For men under 65 years old and women under 55 years old, the condition is considered early-onset and often relates to genetic factors, dyslipidemia, or gene abnormalities that are difficult to detect during routine general health check-ups.

Dr. Ho Minh Tuan advises individuals who engage in high-intensity sports or have a family history of heart disease to undergo specialized screenings, such as echocardiograms, stress tests, coronary CT angiography, and gene testing, to detect risks early. If chest pain, shortness of breath, or prolonged arm numbness occurs for more than 15 minutes, it is crucial to call for emergency assistance immediately to utilize the "golden hour."

The Dan

For more information about emergency myocardial infarction intervention at FV Hospital, please contact:

Address: 6 Nguyen Luong Bang, Tan My Ward (formerly District 7), Ho Chi Minh City

Tel: (028) 34 11 33 33.

Hotline: (028) 35 11 35 00