20 hours of "brain-stretching" to save the life of a patient with rare bone cancer

The pelvic reconstruction surgery was a tense ordeal for the Vinmec medical team.

20 hours of surgery brought the patient back from the brink of death.

Patient TT, 38 years old, had a malignant tumor that had eroded almost the entire left pelvis, with stage III lung metastasis. After 4 cycles of chemotherapy, the tumor responded, but the only option for radical removal was total left pelvic resection.

The pelvis not only connects the spine and lower limbs, but also protects a range of vital organs: the bladder, rectum, and the vascular and nervous systems that nourish the legs. This means that if the pelvis is lost, the patient will not only be unable to move but will also be at risk of impaired basic survival functions.

Dr. Nguyen Tran Quang Sang, Head of the Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Surgery, Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital (Hanoi), made a bold decision: to reconstruct Ms. T.'s entire pelvis using personalized 3D-printed titanium implants.

According to this expert, successful total pelvic reconstruction surgeries are rare worldwide, and are only performed in countries with advanced medical systems. In Vietnam, Vinmec is one of the pioneering healthcare systems, and Ms. T.'s surgery was only the sixth case performed by Vinmec using this technique.

The major surgery unfolded like a tense "marathon in the operating room," lasting 20 hours and involving 15 doctors from various specialties: orthopedics, oncology, general surgery, anesthesiology and resuscitation, intensive care, urology, gastroenterology, vascular surgery, etc. Each team took on a crucial role, coordinating seamlessly down to the smallest detail.

The surgery was made even more difficult because the tumor had invaded the entire left pelvis, clinging closely to major blood vessels and nerves. Even a small mistake could lead to uncontrolled blood loss, paralysis of both lower limbs, or damage to vital organs such as the bladder and rectum.

"The team had to both completely remove the tumor and preserve vital functions as much as possible, while also preparing the ground for a personalized 3D-printed titanium implant to be placed with millimeter precision," Dr. Sang explained.

When the 3D-printed titanium implant – designed based on the patient's CT and MRI data – fits perfectly into the patient's body, the tension gradually begins to ease.

After nearly a day teetering on the brink of death, the patient not only overcame cancer but also retained their mobility – an achievement that even many leading medical centers worldwide struggle to attain. This achievement also opens a new chapter for bone cancer treatment in Vietnam.

The impact of 3D printing technology in medicine.

Behind this extraordinary surgery lies the more than 15-year journey of tireless dedication by Dr. Nguyen Tran Quang Sang and his colleagues at the Vinmec Healthcare System. He has become a pillar of support for hundreds of patients who had seemingly lost all hope.

In the early years of his career, he was haunted by the sight of many cancer patients, some as young as 10-14 years old, having to undergo amputation to save their lives. Their futures seemed bleak, and many fell into depression, refusing treatment. It was these heart-wrenching experiences that motivated him and his colleagues to seek a new path.

The idea of using 3D printing technology to reconstruct bone came to him during his training in Japan. Witnessing patients regaining mobility after bone replacement surgery using 3D-printed implants, he wondered why the Japanese could do it but Vietnam couldn't.

Upon returning to Vietnam, he began persuading colleagues and expert panels about a new technology. With belief and perseverance, he and his team at Vinmec embarked on the first limb preservation cases using 3D printing technology.

One of the most significant milestones was the total femur replacement surgery for a child with cancer – the first of its kind in Vietnam. Six years later, the child is not only healthy but has also started a family, had children, and found a stable job. Recently, Vinmec continued to make its mark with the world's youngest total femur replacement surgery using this groundbreaking technology.

Previously, almost 100% of bone cancer patients had to have limbs amputated, but now at Vinmec, the limb preservation rate has reached 80-90%.

In particular, under the leadership of Dr. Sang, Vinmec has performed hundreds of complex bone replacement surgeries using 3D printing technology - from pelvic bones and femurs to even titanium rib cages. Vinmec also collaborates with engineers and research institutes to continuously improve techniques and design implants that are increasingly accurate, durable, and safer for patients.

THIEN LAM

Source: https://nhandan.vn/20-gio-can-nao-gianh-lai-su-song-cho-benh-nhan-ung-thu-xuong-hiem-gap-post910540.html