A blood clot nearly caused the elderly woman to lose millions of brain cells every minute.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Early detection of symptoms, immediate hospitalization, and effective management of underlying conditions are the most important measures to protect health, especially in the elderly.

A 78-year-old female patient was saved by the interventional cardiology team at Friendship Hospital after a successful thrombectomy procedure completely reopened a blocked middle cerebral artery.

Specifically, at around 1 PM on the day of admission, the elderly woman was using the restroom when she suddenly fell. Her family noticed that she was weak and paralyzed on the left side of her body, and slower than usual, so they immediately took her to the hospital.

Just half an hour earlier, the patient was alert and eating normally. Upon admission to the Emergency Department at 4 PM, approximately 3 hours after onset, the patient was assessed as conscious but slow, with left-sided hemiplegia, and an NIHSS score of 15.

According to Dr. Nguyen Dang Khiem, Head of the Emergency Department, this is a manifestation of a severe stroke. The CT scan of the brain and cerebral arteries did not show any new infarcts but revealed chronic stenosis and occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery.

Recognizing this as a critical moment for intervention, the doctors quickly took the patient to the interventional cardiology room for detailed imaging and evaluation.

The results showed that the thrombus had completely occluded the M1 segment of the right middle cerebral artery.

The team decided to perform a mechanical thrombectomy procedure. The entire process went smoothly, the vessel was completely reopened, and blood flow after the blockage was restored, creating optimal conditions for the surviving brain tissue to recover.

Doctors say the underlying cause of the stroke in this case stemmed from the patient's history of atrial fibrillation.

Brain scan of the patient (Photo: Provided by the hospital).

In older adults, atrial fibrillation causes an irregular heartbeat, leading to blood pooling in the heart chambers and creating conditions for blood clot formation. When a blood clot travels through the bloodstream to the brain, it can suddenly block important arterial branches, causing an acute ischemic stroke.

Patients often present with symptoms such as facial asymmetry, difficulty speaking, hemiplegia (weakness or paralysis on one side of the body), or altered consciousness. These are all signs that require prompt treatment.

According to Dr. Khiem, the timeframe of approximately 4.5 to 6 hours after onset is considered the "golden hour" in stroke treatment.

During this stage, the patient may be given thrombolytic drugs to dissolve the blood clot or undergo mechanical thrombectomy, as in the case of the elderly woman.

With each passing minute, millions of brain cells can be damaged, so the speed at which a patient is transported to a medical facility directly determines their chances of recovery and the extent of subsequent disability.

Thanks to early detection and timely treatment, the 78-year-old woman has overcome the critical stage. Post-intervention follow-up showed stable blood flow to the brain, and the patient's motor and language recovery was assessed positively.

Based on this case, doctors issued an important warning to the community.

People with chronic cardiovascular conditions such as atrial fibrillation, hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia are at very high risk of stroke.

Patients need regular cardiovascular checkups and must adhere to treatment, especially taking anticoagulant medication as directed. Discontinuing medication or adjusting the dosage without consulting a doctor can increase the risk of blood clot formation.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/cuc-mau-dong-khien-cu-ba-suyt-mat-hang-trieu-te-bao-nao-moi-phut-20251211102714749.htm