TP HCMA 60-year-old man who was watering plants suddenly fell down, stood up to dig rice, and appeared slurred, paralyzed on the left side of his body, and was diagnosed with a stroke and ischemic attack.
On April 20, Doctor Diep Trong Khai, Head of the Department of Neurology, Xuyen A General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said the patient was admitted to the hospital 30 minutes after symptoms appeared, showing signs of drowsiness, slurred speech, and paralysis. left central nerve VII, left hemiplegia, muscle strength 3/5, NIHSS score: 10 points (the higher the score, the more severe the risk of disability).
Through medical history, it was shown that the patient had a history of hypertension, had smoked for many years and had a stroke 2 years ago, but left no sequelae.
Brain CT scan results diagnosed right hemisphere stroke in the first hour. Fortunately, patients admitted to the hospital during the golden time (first 4.5 hours) should be prescribed treatment with fibrinolytic drugs.
After taking the medicine, the patient was stable, the muscle strength of the left side improved by 4/5, the NIHSS decreased to 4 points, and blood vessels were re-opened. Initial treatment was successful, he was transferred to the Stroke Unit and Neurology Department for continued monitoring and treatment. After 24 hours, the patient was awake, had good contact, had a clear voice, muscle strength 5/5, and his health recovered. This is one of the rare cases where a life was saved in time.
There are two types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Of these, cerebral infarction accounts for 85%. Cases of cerebral hemorrhage account for 15%, but complications are more severe and deaths are high.
Patients with ischemic stroke who do not receive timely intervention will quickly fall into a coma and stop breathing. Treatment is with thrombolysis to dissolve blood clots (causing cerebral vascular occlusion), without the need for surgery or intervention. However, fibrinolytic drugs are only effective for patients in the first 4.5 hours of symptom onset.
To recognize the signs of a stroke, apply the principles from FAST (fast) when examining the patient, i.e.:
– Face: ask the patient to smile or show teeth, one side does not move.
– Arm: one arm is weaker than the other when the patient raises both arms.
– Speech: slurred speech, inappropriate use of words or silence.
– Time (time): if you suspect one of the above symptoms, call 115 immediately and remember the time the symptoms first appeared to notify the doctor to choose the most appropriate treatment method.
Doctors recommend that when someone shows signs of acute myocardial infarction (chest pain, difficulty breathing) or brain stroke (mouth distortion, difficulty walking, weakness, speech or mental disorders), they should act quickly. Quickly take the patient to the nearest medical facility with neurology and cardiovascular expertise for timely intervention and emergency treatment.