70 laparoscopic surgery patients had non-healing wounds, suspected of infection

Dr. Phan Xuan Nam, Director of Quang Tri Provincial General Hospital, informed about the incident.

Accordingly, from September to early October 2025, Quang Tri Provincial General Hospital recorded a number of cases of re-examination with swelling and prolonged discharge at the surgical site after laparoscopic surgery from 2 to 4 weeks .

On October 13, the leaders of Quang Tri Provincial General Hospital, the hospital's Infection Control Council and related departments and offices held an urgent meeting, determining that this was an unexpected medical incident and that it was necessary to urgently find the cause and take measures to handle it.

The initial summary report results show that all patients had surgery at Quang Tri Provincial General Hospital during the above mentioned period using endoscopic methods in the emergency operating room (operating room number 2), with instruments sterilized with chemicals.

The surgical wound did not heal normally, there was persistent discharge, pain, red and swollen skin, localized lesions in the abdominal wall were stable, no fever, normal blood count, and no bacteria were detected in the test .

The initial cause may be an infection of the abdominal surgical wound of unknown origin.

From October 13 to 21, Quang Tri General Hospital stopped operating room No. 2, disinfected the entire surgical area, changed the sterilization process of instruments, and switched to centralized autoclave. At the same time, examined and actively treated patients using internal and surgical methods, assigned doctors to directly handle the treatment, and reviewed the infection control process.

On October 22, the Board of Directors of Quang Tri Provincial General Hospital continued to assign surgeons to contact patients who had emergency endoscopic surgery from July to October 2025 to check their health status.

Quang Tri General Hospital visited and encouraged patients

Dr. Phan Xuan Nam, Director of Quang Tri General Hospital, said that 70 patients returned for check-ups with swelling and prolonged discharge at the surgical site after laparoscopic surgery from 2 to 4 weeks. Up to now, 9 patients are being treated at Hue Central Hospital, the rest are being treated at the hospital.

"We are currently focusing our resources on thoroughly handling the incident. At the same time, we are comprehensively reviewing infection control work, establishing a patient care support team, visiting, encouraging, and continuing to monitor the health status of patients who underwent endoscopic surgery between July and October 2025," said Dr. Phan Xuan Nam.

Regarding the incident, Quang Tri Provincial General Hospital has established a Professional Council, inviting infection control experts to participate in the survey, evaluate the process and provide professional advice.

On November 10, expert Tran Huu Luyen, Vice President of the Vietnam Infection Control Association, directly surveyed and participated in a meeting of the Professional Council.

Through analyzing the common characteristics of the cases, the Council found that all of them had laparoscopic surgery performed in the emergency operating room, with instruments sterilized with chemicals. The surgical wound had the characteristics of prolonged discharge, only damage to the abdominal wall, no damage to internal organs, no fever, no bacteria detected in the test, positive AFB staining, PCR excluded tuberculosis bacteria.

VAN THANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/70-benh-nhan-mo-noi-soi-khong-lanh-vet-thuong-nghi-do-nhiem-khuan-post823180.html