Hospital task force saves stroke survivors

November 23, 2016 - 09:00

Hundreds of stroke victims hospitalised in the Đà Nẵng General Hospital over the past three years were saved by a special task force for stroke victims, the Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) Newspaper reported.

Doctors examine a stroke victim. Photo Đoàn Cương/Tuoi Tre
Viet Nam News

ĐÀ NẴNG – Hundreds of stroke victims hospitalised in the Đà Nẵng General Hospital over the past three years were saved by a special task force for stroke victims, the Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) Newspaper reported.

The task force examines anyone arriving at the hospital with symptoms of a stroke, and gives first aid.

The patient is then classified as an “urgent case”, enabling a speeded up administrative process so doctors can race to save the patient’s life,  hospital director Dr Trần Ngọc Thạnh told the newspaper.

Proper first aid is essential, the doctor said.

Experience shows that the first three hours after a stroke are the crucial ones for getting life-saving treatment, but most victims arrive at the hospital after experiencing the symptoms, such as numbness, difficulty speaking and vertigo, he added.

According to the hospital director, the task force was formed three years ago and consists of 10 doctors.

“The whole process of diagnosing, giving first aid, conducting tests and deciding on proper treatment will take about 40-60 minutes,” said doctor Dương Quang Hải, one of the team members.

If they are treated in time, “most stroke patients resume normal lives after one month of treatment in the hospital,” Hải said.

We are always racing against time because every minute that passes reduces the patient’s chances of survival,” he said.

The doctors have also instituted several new treatment methods for stroke patients.

“Before, about 70-80 per cent of patients with a stroke caused by a blood clot in brain vessels would die or remain disabled,” said doctor Lê Đức Nhân.

“Since earlier this year, the hospital has a new method of removing blood clots from the brain vessels,” Nhân said, “giving many patients a chance of survival.”

According to the Việt Nam Stroke Association, about 200,000 people in Việt Nam suffer strokes each year. Half die, a decrease of about 20 per cent compared with 10 years ago.

Experts say stroke treatment in the country is difficult due to limited hospital infrastructure and lack of knowledge on the part of victims.

While the number of deaths has dropped, the number of those remaining disabled was on the rise.

In fact, about 90 per cent of patients suffer after effects, the severity of which depends on when they were hospitalised and how they were treated.

Đà Nẵng General Hospital is one of ten hospitals nationwide providing emergency intervention and treatment for strokes. But most hospitals nationwide still lack modern equipment for diagnosis and treatment. – VNS

 

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