75-year-old Mr. Minh was suffering from leg pain and difficulty walking due to an artery blockage in his lower limbs. Dr. Le Van Tuyen, a cardiovascular surgeon at Tam Anh General Hospital, performed a “2 in 1” intervention to save the blood vessels in Mr. Minh’s legs.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Mr. Minh’s legs were severely blocked in the arteries of both lower limbs, including the iliac artery, femoral artery, and below-the-knee artery. This blockage posed a risk of severe anemia and necrosis in both legs, with a lower limb ischemia index indicating a high risk of tissue death.
Based on multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) angiography results, doctors identified obstructions and calcifications in the arteries of both lower extremities. Dr. Nguyen Anh Dung, head of the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, initially expressed concern about Mr. Minh’s ability to undergo major surgery due to his age and underlying health conditions. However, instead of a two-legged blood vessel bypass, the medical team decided to combine surgery and endovascular intervention to completely resolve the condition.
During a two-hour procedure, doctors bypassed the blockage in the left leg artery and placed a stent in the left iliac artery. They successfully revascularized the right thigh, allowing Mr. Minh to regain sensation in his feet and walk again without pain or discomfort. After three days, he was discharged from the hospital with normal blood perfusion in both legs and smooth flow in the stents.
Arterial occlusion in the lower extremities can lead to severe symptoms such as leg pain, pale skin, and necrosis if left untreated for too long. Risk factors like age over 60 years old, smoking habits, diabetes mellitus type 2 or higher BMI than 30 kg/m2 increase significantly this risk of blockages in leg arteries.
To prevent such conditions from occurring or worsening further after treatment recovery Dr Dung recommends lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or reducing sedentary lifestyle habits that increase these risks furthermore regular exercise helps maintain good cardiovascular health while controlling underlying health issues can reduce chances of complications post recovery.
In conclusion Arterial occlusion can be dangerous if not addressed promptly but with proper diagnosis followed by appropriate treatment methods combined with healthy lifestyle choices patients can recover without any severe complications happening again
