95-Year-Old Patient Saved by Groundbreaking Heart Procedure in Mekong Delta

Doctors at An Giang General Hospital have successfully treated a 95-year-old patient with a heavily calcified coronary artery. The procedure used advanced LithiX HC Mechanical Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) technology, marking a first for the Mekong Delta region. The patient, the oldest in the area to undergo such treatment, was discharged within two days.

The elderly woman arrived with a complex condition: over 90% narrowing in two segments of her left anterior descending artery. Her lesions were eccentric and severely calcified, making conventional treatments too risky. During the intervention, she also showed signs of an acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation.

A single LithiX 2.5mm balloon was used to modify the calcified vessel. Nine controlled inflations, ranging from 6 to 12 atmospheres, were performed without complications. Post-treatment imaging confirmed the calcium had fractured completely, allowing for the successful placement of two drug-eluting stents. The stents expanded well and fitted securely against the artery walls.

An Giang General Hospital is now the first medical centre in the Mekong Delta to fully master the LithiX Hertz Contact technology. This achievement comes as no other facility in the region has publicly reported using this method for heavily calcified coronary cases as of February 2026.

The patient's rapid recovery and discharge within 48 hours demonstrate the procedure's success. Her case also highlights the effectiveness of LithiX IVL for high-risk patients with severe coronary calcification. The hospital's expertise in this technology sets a new standard for cardiac care in the region.