Severe heart failure saved by CRT machine

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacemaker implantation is one of the modern methods that effectively treat heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. At the Provincial General Hospital, this technique has been performed regularly for many years, bringing hope of life to many severe cardiovascular patients who previously had to be transferred to the Central level.

Doctors from the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Intervention (Provincial General Hospital) perform CRT replacement for a patient. (Photo provided by the hospital)

Recently, patient VNA (72 years old, Ha Long ward) was brought to the Provincial General Hospital by his family in a state of fatigue and prolonged chest pain. The patient had a history of dilated cardiomyopathy and chronic heart failure, had been implanted with a CRT machine at a central hospital 15 years ago and had been monitored and treated stably for a long time. However, through examination, the doctor discovered that the patient's heart device had run out of battery and needed to be replaced with a new one to continue maintaining the effectiveness of the treatment.

It is worth noting that instead of returning to the Central hospital as before, the patient and his family decided to go to the Provincial General Hospital to replace the device, because they trusted the doctors' skills and the development of the local health sector. Doctors of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Intervention, led by Dr. CKII Tran Quang Dinh, Head of the Department, replaced the patient's new pacemaker in about 30 minutes. The intervention was gentle, the patient was completely awake, the incision was small, there was little pain and a quick recovery.

Just a few days after the CRT machine replacement intervention, the patient's symptoms of fatigue and chest pain were significantly reduced, and his health gradually stabilized. "I had two interventions at Bach Mai Hospital. But now that I see that a doctor in my province can do it, and it's close to home, I feel secure staying for treatment. Everything happened quickly and smoothly, and the results were very good. I am very satisfied with the expertise of the intervention team and the dedicated, professional care of the doctors and nurses at the hospital," Mr. NVA happily shared.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacemaker implantation is one of the modern methods to effectively treat heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart chambers are enlarged, reducing the contractility of the heart muscle. The disease often progresses silently, and by the time it is detected, the patient has symptoms of heart failure such as shortness of breath, fatigue, edema, etc. If not treated properly, the patient may be at risk of arrhythmia, fainting, or sudden death. Therefore, early and proper treatment is very important.

In addition to using medication to control symptoms, CRT is a solution highly appreciated by many cardiovascular experts in the country and around the world . This technique uses a device implanted in the body to readjust the electrical activity of the heart, helping the heart chambers to contract more synchronously and effectively, thereby improving heart function, reducing symptoms of heart failure, reducing the frequency of hospitalizations and prolonging the life of the patient. CRT is especially effective in patients with heart failure with low ejection fraction and intrinsic conduction disorders.

Previously, CRT implantation or replacement cases often had to be transferred to large hospitals in Hanoi , but now the Provincial General Hospital has mastered this technique, helping patients receive treatment locally. According to Dr. Tran Quang Dinh, Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Intervention, Provincial General Hospital, CRT implantation is not a very complicated procedure, but requires experienced doctors and modern machinery. Replacing the device at the right time is very important to ensure continuous and effective treatment. Currently, the hospital is completely capable of performing both new implantation and CRT replacement safely and effectively like major cardiovascular centers.

Along with CRT implantation, the Provincial General Hospital also implements many other specialized cardiovascular techniques such as open heart surgery, coronary intervention, stent placement, and radiofrequency arrhythmia treatment. This not only helps reduce the burden on upper-level facilities but also affirms the increasingly improved professional capacity of the medical team here.

Van Anh

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/suy-tim-nang-duoc-cuu-song-nho-may-crt-3364915.html