A 55-year-old offshore oil rig worker suffered a life-threatening heart attack around 350 kilometres from the mainland and was successfully saved following an urgent cardiac intervention at FV Hospital. The patient survived thanks to the rapid activation of the hospital’s “golden hour” emergency response protocol.

Remote Activation of Emergency Heart Attack Protocol

At around 6:20 a.m. on Sunday, 23 November, Mr N.H.P., aged 55, was working on an offshore oil rig off the coast of Vung Tau when he suddenly developed dizziness and severe chest pain. On-site medical staff immediately activated the emergency rescue system. A helicopter carrying a doctor was dispatched to provide first aid at the rig before transporting the patient to Vung Tau Airport, followed by onward transfer via Tan Son Nhat Airport to hospital.

At the same time, the medical team on the rig contacted FV Hospital, a facility well known for successfully managing complex cardiac cases, to prepare for emergency treatment.

At 8:00 a.m., Dr Nguyen Thanh Binh, MSc, from FV Hospital’s Accident & Emergency Department received the call from Vung Tau. He promptly discussed the patient’s condition with the attending doctor and estimated the time of arrival.

FV Hospital immediately activated its emergency cardiac response. Five specialist teams were mobilised simultaneously: emergency physicians to receive and assess the patient; the Cathlab team to prepare the intervention suite; interventional cardiologists; general cardiologists; and ICU anaesthetists, all placed on standby.

The patient arrived at FV Hospital’s Emergency Department at 11:00 a.m. After examining Mr P., Dr Thanh Binh observed ongoing chest pain, signs of reduced blood supply to the heart, and cold extremities. Test results confirmed an acute myocardial infarction, requiring immediate intervention.

The patient was transferred directly to the Cathlab, where the team led by Dr Ho Minh Tuan, PhD, Head of Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology at FV Hospital, was already prepared. From arrival at the Emergency Department to readiness for intervention, less than 20 minutes had passed.

A 40-minute Procedure That Saved a Life

In cases of acute myocardial infarction, the only effective treatment is rapid reopening of the blocked coronary artery. With the support of a DSA angiography system and advanced equipment, Dr Tuan guided a catheter through a small blood vessel in the arm to reach the blockage.

“The blockage was located in the left main coronary artery, which plays a critical role in supplying blood to the heart. Without immediate intervention, the risk of death would have been extremely high,” Dr Ho Minh Tuan explained.

Once the blockage was reached, the team quickly passed a guidewire and implanted a stent to restore blood flow. The stent’s placement was optimised using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging. Blood flow to the heart was immediately re-established, the patient’s blood pressure and cardiac indicators stabilised, and heart function improved significantly. The entire procedure in the Cathlab took less than 40 minutes. Just one day later, the patient was fully conscious and recovering well, and he was discharged shortly afterwards. At his one-week follow-up, he was already able to resume light exercise and normal daily activities.

Dr Ho Minh Tuan, PhD, examines the patient after the intervention. Photo: FV Hospital

“I suffered a heart attack in the middle of the sea and still had to travel another six to seven hours, yet I was fortunate to be saved by the doctors at FV Hospital. To me, this truly feels like a miracle. I am deeply grateful to the FV medical team,” Mr N.H.P. shared.

A 24/7 Response System: The Key Behind FV Hospital’s Cardiac Emergency “Miracles”

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in both Vietnam and worldwide. It can strike suddenly or lead to serious disability if not detected and treated promptly, which is why every minute is critical in cardiac emergencies.

“FV Hospital has a dedicated protocol for diagnosing and activating emergency treatment for heart attacks. The time from arrival at the Emergency Department to the Cathlab is no more than 30 minutes. For transferred patients with prior notification, this can be reduced to around 15 minutes,” said Dr Nguyen Thanh Binh, MSc.

FV Hospital’s heart attack emergency team remains on standby 24/7. Photo: FV

The strength of FV Hospital’s Emergency Department lies in its seamless, highly coordinated approach, particularly in cardiac emergencies. Each role is carried out precisely as required: the intervention team prepares the Cathlab as soon as an alert is raised; emergency nurses take blood samples from the appropriate arm to avoid interfering with later procedures; and doctors concurrently activate specialist teams while prescribing treatment. Even reception staff are trained to identify suspected heart attack cases and promptly notify the relevant departments.

Thanks to its well-structured, 24/7 emergency response system, FV Hospital’s cardiac emergency team has helped restore countless heartbeats and save thousands of lives in critical situations.

For more information on emergency cardiac interventions for heart attacks at FV Hospital, readers can visit 06 Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Tan My Ward (formerly District 7), Ho Chi Minh City, or contact (028) 35 11 33 33. Emergency hotline: (028) 35 11 35 00.