Last November, Vinmec Da Nang received a female Cambodian tourist who suddenly experienced severe headaches and intense vomiting. Doctors quickly suspected a potential stroke case. Acting promptly, the medical team employed advanced techniques to achieve optimal results, not only saving her life but also ensuring her complete recovery without any lasting complications.
60 Minutes to Save a Life
Using CT and MRI imaging, the doctors confirmed their initial suspicion: Ms. Mak Somaly, a 49-year-old Cambodian tourist visiting Da Nang, had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a ruptured brain aneurysm. This was the underlying cause of her sudden, severe headache and vision impairment.
Further scans revealed two aneurysms in her brain. To ensure successful intervention, the team had to determine which aneurysm had ruptured. This was crucial to prevent recurrence, which could result in a high fatality risk. Complicating matters, the ruptured aneurysm had a "wide neck," making the choice of intervention method particularly challenging.
Thanks to extensive experience and advanced diagnostic and interventional tools, the team at Vinmec Da Nang successfully identified and treated the aneurysm within just 60 minutes of her admission. The procedure involved coil embolization and stent-coiling to completely seal off the ruptured aneurysm.
The minimally invasive approach, performed through the femoral artery, was the optimal choice for ensuring the aneurysm would not rupture again, avoiding fatal or disabling consequences. However, this procedure demands a high level of expertise and experience in neurovascular intervention. Improper technique could lead to further damage, vessel blockage, or even rupture.
After the procedure, follow-up scans confirmed the aneurysm was fully resolved. Ms. Somaly’s health improved rapidly—she became alert, her headache disappeared, and her vision returned. After a 10-day hospital stay, doctors confirmed she had no neurological or motor impairments and was fully recovered. She was discharged with care instructions and a follow-up schedule to ensure long-term health stability.
"My mother had suffered from sleep disorders for four years, and my grandmother had passed away from a ruptured brain aneurysm. I was terrified when this happened," said Ms. Mak Somaly’s daughter. "Friends suggested bringing her to Vinmec Da Nang, known for its specialized stroke center and skilled doctors. That was the best decision we could have made—thanks to them, my mother is now fully recovered."
A Trusted Address for Stroke Patients
The successful intervention at Vinmec Da Nang stemmed from the hospital's implementation of the most advanced and optimized stroke emergency protocols, meeting European standards for acute stroke care. Notably, the hospital has a highly professional neurovascular intervention team, led by Dr. Nguyen Thai Tri, Head of Intensive Care and Emergency Department, and Dr. Ton That Tri Dung, Head of Internal Medicine, specializing in revascularization during stroke emergencies.
The team has saved countless lives and reduced fatalities among patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke, brain vascular malformations, and other high-risk conditions, including many tourists. Therefore, the Stroke Center at Vinmec Da Nang has become a trusted partner for numerous travel agencies in Central Vietnam, ensuring reliable medical care for tourists, especially in stroke emergencies. The hospital also provides multilingual interpreters to guarantee seamless and effective communication for patient care.
According to stroke specialists at Vinmec Da Nang, the most critical action is to recognize and respond promptly to warning signs. Symptoms such as sudden difficulty speaking, slurred speech, confusion, numbness or paralysis in the face, arms, or legs, blurred or double vision, headaches, or loss of balance require immediate transport to a hospital equipped for stroke emergencies. Avoid unnecessary actions like acupuncture or massage, which can waste the golden time and potentially harm the patient.
"Time is brain – with each minute after a stroke, nearly 2 million brain cells die. If patients arrive more than 4.5 hours after symptom onset, stroke interventions lose effectiveness, significantly increasing the risk of disability or death," explained Dr. Ton That Tri Dung, a leading neurovascular intervention expert at Vinmec Da Nang.
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