Upon receiving an urgent call from a provincial hospital about an 80-year-old patient suffering from both acute myocardial infarction with pulmonary oedema and a concurrent stroke, FV Hospital’s 24/7 Golden Hour Cardiac Emergency Team mobilised immediately. Through rapid coordination and decisive intervention, the patient was stabilised within 30 minutes of arrival.

Thanks to the international-standard Cathlab and a highly experienced cardiac emergency team operating to the “70-Minute Golden Hour” protocol, FV Hospital has successfully saved thousands of patients facing similar life-threatening cardiac cases. Over time, FV has become a leading cardiac emergency centre in southern Vietnam, receiving regular referrals from provincial hospitals, other healthcare facilities in Ho Chi Minh City, and neighbouring countries.

Swift Intervention Saves Elderly Patient From Concurrent Stroke and Heart Attack

Mr N.V.T., an 80-year-old Vietnamese-French man, was admitted to a provincial hospital with  chest pain, shortness of breath, pulmonary oedema, and limb weakness. Doctors quickly concluded that he was experiencing simultaneous acute stroke and myocardial infarction, a rare and extremely dangerous combination.

Recognising the complexity of the case, the attending physicians immediately contacted FV Hospital, known for its advanced Cardiac Emergency Team and Cathlab facilities, to arrange an emergency transfer for the elderly patient.

After four hours of en-route resuscitation, the patient arrived at FV Hospital. On admission, the 24/7 Golden Hour Cardiac Emergency Team was in place and began treatment immediately.

Rapid diagnostic imaging revealed that the patient was suffering from acute cerebral stroke, acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary oedema with severely calcified and critically narrowed coronary arteries, and a dangerously low ejection fraction of only 30%. Without immediate treatment, sudden cardiac arrest was imminent.

Ho Minh Tuan, MD, PhD – Head of Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology at FV Hospital, explained that Mr T. had multiple complex underlying medical conditions, including diabetes, blood pressure, hyperlipidaemia, and heart failure, which are major risk factors for stroke. In an elderly patient, this combination can precipitate an acute stroke.

Timely Intervention Restores Blood Flow

The patient was immediately transferred to FV’s international-standard Cathlab for emergency intervention. Under the direction of Ho Minh Tuan, MD, PhD – Head of Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology, the team used advanced Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging systems to identify the exact blockage and its characteristics.

Through the patient’s coronary artery, the team carefully advanced specialised instruments to break through the heavy calcification, performed balloon angioplasty, and deployed a stent to restore blood flow. A follow-up angiogram confirmed complete revascularisation. The entire emergency procedure was completed within 23 minutes.

“The patient’s acute myocardial infarction was treated promptly. His stroke was managed with optimal medication and has now stabilised, so no further intervention was required,” explained Dr Ho Minh Tuan. After just five days of treatment, the patient had made a remarkable recovery. Follow-up echocardiography also showed his heart function had returned to near-normal levels.

“The doctors and nurses cared for me with great dedication and helped me recover quickly from a life-threatening situation. FV Hospital made me feel as comfortable as if I were at home,”
shared Mr N.V.T. on discharge.

The 70-Minute Golden Hour Protocol Behind Thousands of Cardiac Emergency Successes

Recent data indicate that cardiovascular disease claims approximately 200,000 lives in Vietnam each year, accounting for nearly 25 percent of all deaths. Given the rapid and often unpredictable course of cardiac conditions, medical experts emphasise that timely emergency intervention is essential to reduce mortality and limit severe complications. Both the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend a 90-minute “golden window”, from a patient’s arrival at the emergency department to successful reopening of the blocked coronary artery.

At FV Hospital, this window is shortened to 70 minutes, enabled by a dedicated 24/7 Golden Hour Cardiac Emergency Team and strict adherence to Joint Commission International (JCI) standards, among the world’s most rigorous benchmarks for healthcare quality and patient safety.

Significantly, for pre-alerted cases, the team can often prepare in advance, reducing intervention time to just 25–30 minutes. The case of Mr N.V.T. is one such example, showcasing the effectiveness of FV’s Golden Hour Cardiac Emergency Team through a swift and coordinated response.

With pioneering expertise in advanced interventional cardiology, FV Hospital continues to affirm its position as a leading cardiac centre in southern Vietnam, frequently receiving emergency referrals for acute myocardial infarction from hospitals across Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring provinces.

If you suspect a stroke or heart attack, call FV Hospital’s Emergency Hotline immediately: 028 35 11 35 00. For more information about our services, visit 6 Nguyen Luong Bang, Tan My Ward (formerly District 7), Ho Chi Minh City, or call (028) 35 11 33 33.