Routine Procedure Saves Life: 86-Year-Old Patient’s Heart Arrest Dilemma

On May 7, Doctor II Huynh Ngoc Long, Director of the Vascular Intervention Center at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, shared that Mr. Phat, an 86-year-old patient, had a severe blockage in his right coronary artery caused by atherosclerotic plaque. This resulted in arrhythmia, causing his heart rate to fluctuate between 29 beats per minute and 99 beats per minute. The doctor suspected that the blockage was the cause of chest pain and atrioventricular block.

To address the issue, the medical team decided to perform a procedure using a Rotablator diamond drill to smooth out the atherosclerotic plaque and then place a stent in the narrowed vessel. After the intervention, Mr. Phat’s artery dilated optimally without any blockages causing myocardial ischemia. His chest pain subsided, and his heart rate stabilized at 55-60 beats per minute. He continued to be monitored and treated to control atrioventricular block and avoid complications.

The most common causes of atrioventricular block are fibrosis, degeneration of conduction pathways, and myocardial ischemia. Treatment options include observation, medication, or temporary/permanent pacemaker implantation depending on severity. Factors that increase the risk of atrioventricular block include age, hypertension, diabetes, inactivity, obesity, smoking, and other underlying health conditions.

To prevent atrioventricular block from occurring in the first place or worsening if it already exists maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and stress reduction can go a long way as well as limiting alcohol intake and avoiding smoking altogether can make all the difference.

Receiving prompt medical intervention when symptoms arise is crucial for managing cardiac issues like atrioventricular block effectively.

In summary Mr Phat’s case illustrates how severe right coronary artery narrowing caused by atherosclerotic plaque can lead to arrhythmia sometimes falling too low sometimes jumping too high resulting in chest pain but with prompt medical intervention involving rotablator diamond drill smooth out plaque followed by stent placement , patients’ condition can improve significantly allowing them to return to their normal activities with proper monitoring and treatment regimen