Rare case of “forgotten valve”
Mr. Han Phu Dung (81 years old, Quang Ninh) has a history of more than 20 years of living with congenital heart valve prolapse, and has to rely entirely on medication to maintain his health. Over time, the effects of the medication have gradually decreased, and his condition has become increasingly serious. Prolonged heart failure, tricuspid valve regurgitation, atrial fibrillation complications, and a history of cerebral infarction, frequent shortness of breath, and fatigue have made it impossible for the patient to continue medical treatment.
In November 2024, Mr. Dung was hospitalized in a state of exhaustion, unable to breathe normally or move on his own, and losing the ability to hear and speak. Doctors determined that he had severe valve prolapse causing tricuspid regurgitation at a level that required emergency surgical intervention. This is a rare case, also known as the “forgotten valve”, due to the lack of research and optimal treatment methods.
Surgery also poses many challenges due to the patient's advanced age and severe injury. To minimize risks, the surgery not only requires the shortest possible time, but also requires the application of optimal techniques to ensure effectiveness and success. At the same time, the patient also needs atrial fibrillation ablation to treat the arrhythmia, eliminating the risk of recurrent cerebral infarction or stroke. This requires both surgeries to be performed in the same operation.
Dr. Dang Quang Huy - Deputy Director of the Cardiovascular Center (Vinmec), said that the team of doctors applied a special technique to repair the tricuspid valve. Accordingly, the doctors will reshape the tricuspid valve, dividing it into two valve holes to restore function. In particular, this surgery is also combined with atrial fibrillation ablation - a method of treating atrial fibrillation by destroying the tissue areas in the heart that cause arrhythmia. Combining the two techniques in the same surgery helps to optimally resolve the disease.
Patient recovers with spectacular results
With the smooth coordination between the surgeon and the surgical team, the surgery was performed safely in the shortest time possible. After only 4 hours, both complex techniques were successfully performed, the patient was removed from the ventilator early and recovered quickly.
“I feel better, no longer have difficulty breathing or fatigue like before. After the surgery, I felt like I had just woken up, I did not feel any pain, just as the doctor had confirmed,” the patient said.
After just under a week of surgery, the patient was discharged with impressive results: the heart rate returned to normal, the tricuspid valve closed, and the heart chamber size returned to almost normal.
“When my father was admitted to the hospital, the family was prepared for the worst, not thinking that he would survive. But like a dream, not only was he healthy, he could also walk steadily and eat well. This joy is incomparable,” the patient’s daughter shared.
Having undergone surgery before at another medical facility, the patient’s son said his father’s recovery was a miracle: “I had heart surgery before, mitral valve repair. After a month, I was still in a lot of pain and couldn’t do the things my father could do after just a week.”
After major surgery, patients are placed on a post-operative atrial fibrillation management program, which helps monitor their health and prevent potential complications.
Vinmec pioneers in applying ESP pain relief technique in heart surgery
Since November 2017, Vinmec Healthcare System has pioneered the application of ESP pain relief technique for 100% of cardiovascular surgeries, achieving outstanding results: no patient required opioids or morphine after surgery, and no complications such as hematoma, hypotension or anesthetic poisoning. On average, patients can be discharged after only 5-7 days and return to normal activities within a month, no longer feeling pain.
