On May 7, Mr. Phat, an 86-year-old man from Ho Chi Minh City, was diagnosed with a myocardial infarction caused by a severe narrowing of his right coronary artery due to atherosclerotic plaque. This resulted in an arrhythmia that caused his heart rate to fluctuate between 29 and 99 beats per minute.
To address the blockage in his right coronary artery, the medical team performed a procedure involving a Rotablator diamond drill to smooth the atherosclerotic plaque and then placed a stent in the narrowed vessel. After the intervention, Mr. Phat’s artery was dilated optimally, without any blockages causing myocardial ischemia. His chest pain subsided, and his heart rate stabilized at 55-60 beats per minute. He continued to be monitored and treated to control the atrioventricular block and avoid complications.
The most common causes of atrioventricular block are fibrosis, degeneration of conduction pathways, and myocardial ischemia. Factors that increase the risk of atrioventricular block include age, hypertension, diabetes, inactivity, obesity, smoking, and other underlying health conditions. To prevent atrioventricular block, maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, stress reduction, limited alcohol intake, and avoidance of smoking is recommended. Receiving prompt medical intervention and following a holistic approach to health can help manage and prevent cardiac issues like atrioventricular block.