Narrowing of two blood vessels that feed the heart and brain

Mr. Chien has a history of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia but did not receive active treatment. Recently, he often suffered from dizziness and nearly fainted. He went to Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for examination.

On October 17, Dr. Nguyen Anh Dung, Head of the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, said that Mr. Chien’s anterior interventricular artery and circumflex artery were over 90% narrowed. The left internal carotid artery is severely narrowed by about 70-80%, blocking blood flow to the brain. Patients with coronary artery stenosis can lead to acute myocardial infarction, sudden death, and carotid artery stenosis with a high risk of stroke. However, treating both of these dangerous conditions at once will pose many risks.

Doctors at the Heart Center consulted and determined that Mr. Chien’s carotid artery stenosis was critical but could be temporarily controlled with medication, while the coronary arteries could not be treated medically, with the risk of any occlusion. when. Therefore, the doctor decided to intervene and place an anterior interventricular stent in the patient before treating the carotid artery.

MSc.BS.CKII Vo Anh Minh, Deputy Department of Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, and the angioplasty team placed stents for patients. The intervention ended after nearly an hour, restoring flow to both coronary branches, reversing the risk of myocardial infarction. Mr. Chien was discharged from the hospital after two days.

Three months after the intervention, Mr. Chien’s health recovered, his heart function was good, proving that the coronary arteries did not narrow again after stent placement. However, he had transient cerebral ischemia again. “This proves that carotid artery disease does not respond to medical treatment and requires surgery to prevent stroke,” said Dr. Dung.

The team incisions the skin to expose the carotid artery blocked by atherosclerotic plaque. Next, the doctor temporarily clamps the carotid artery, stopping blood flow for easier manipulation. During surgery, the brain will receive blood from the right coronary artery branch, ensuring adequate blood supply to the brain. After nearly two hours, the doctor removed the entire atherosclerotic plaque and expanded the carotid artery. Mr. Chien regained consciousness and was discharged from the hospital after three days.

After carotid artery surgery, patients should avoid driving and strenuous activities. Eat enough food, increase rest, get enough sleep, and don’t work stressfully.

Although carotid endarterectomy is effective in the long term, reducing the risk of stroke, it does not prevent atherosclerotic plaque from recurring, according to Dr. Dung. To prevent, patients should limit intake of saturated fats and energy-rich foods, exercise regularly, avoid smoking, control blood pressure, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.