Doctors from the Da Nang General Hospital have performed an successful operation on a male patient suffering the type A aortic dissection with many life-threatening complications to bring him back to life. This is the most devastating complication of thoracic aortic disease with a high mortality rate.

After 10 days of surgery, the male patient is expected to be discharged from the hospital in the next few days

Previously, the 33-year-old man from Binh Dong Commune, Binh Son District, Quang Ngai Province was rushed in haste to the Da Nang hospital due to a heart shock, an acute pulmonary edema and an acute myocardial infarction.

Upon his admission to the hospital, the patient underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a prompt fashion.

During an eight-hour long cardiac surgery, the surgeons from the departments of Cardiology and Resuscitation at the hospital repaired a thoracic aortic aneurysm which generally involves removing the damaged section of the aorta and replacing it with a synthetic tube (graft), which is sewn into place.

To perform the complicated surgery, the patient’s body temperature was lowered down to 25 degrees Celsius, whilst a bilateral cerebral perfusion was also carried out. 

After 10 days of surgery, the patient is now able to talk, walk and eat as normal. His postoperative screening tests are stable, and he is expected to be discharged from hospital in the next few days.

According to doctor Nguyen Minh Hai, Head of Department of Cardiac Surgery at Da Nang Hospital, Type A aortic dissection is usually considered as a “ticking time-bomb.” Without prompt surgical intervention, a mortality rate of 1% per hour over the first 48 hours is commonly cited.

This heal problem occurs when an injury to the innermost layer of the aorta allows blood to flow between the layers of the aortic wall, forcing the layers apart. In most cases, this is associated with a sudden onset of severe chest or back pain, often described as ‘tearing’ in character.

It is known that this technique has been implemented at the hospital since 2015, and this is the second case of Type A aortic dissection to have been handled here.

By PHAN CHUNG- Translated by A.T