Cho Ray Hospital successfully performed 7 organ transplants in 3 days, marking the first lung transplant in the South.

SKĐS - From November 7 to 9, 2025, the medical staff of Cho Ray Hospital worked day and night, coordinating with hospitals from the South to the North to retrieve and transplant 12 organs from two brain-dead donors, successfully performing 7 organ transplants, including the first lung transplant in the Southern region.

This is an important turning point in Vietnamese medicine, not only affirming the professional capacity of the medical team but also spreading profound humanistic values ​​from the organ donation act of the two patients' families.

3 sleepless days and nights - 12 lives revived

At the information sharing session on November 10, Dr. Pham Thanh Viet - Deputy Director in charge of Management and Operation of Cho Ray Hospital said: "For 3 consecutive days, the medical staff of Cho Ray Hospital worked day and night to receive and transplant organs from 2 donors, bringing life to 12 patients, including 2 heart transplants, 4 kidney transplants, 2 liver transplants, 2 lung transplants and 2 cornea transplants. Notably, this is also the first lung transplant performed at Cho Ray and also the first in the Southern region."

This success, according to Dr. Pham Thanh Viet, is the result of close coordination between many units across the country, from the National Organ Transplant Coordination Center, hospitals in the three regions, to transportation agencies, aviation, and police - to ensure that donated organs are transported safely and promptly to the recipient.

The first organ donation case was a 49-year-old male patient, residing in Ho Chi Minh City, who was admitted to Cho Ray Hospital on November 6 with a severe brain injury due to a domestic accident.

After unsuccessful attempts to save him, the patient's family decided to donate his heart, lungs, two kidneys and two corneas to save those waiting for transplants.

Cho Ray Hospital's medical team performs a ceremony to honor organ donors. Photo: BVCC

Immediately after completing legal procedures and evaluating the donated organs, Cho Ray Hospital urgently activated the entire professional process, coordinating with the National Organ Transplant Coordination Center to select suitable recipients.

By the early morning of November 8, 4 organ transplants at Cho Ray Hospital were successful , opening up new opportunities for patients, including: 1 heart transplant for a 53-year-old male patient ( Can Tho ); 2 kidney transplants for a 48-year-old female patient (Dong Nai) and a 40-year-old male patient (Dong Thap); In particular, the lung transplant for a 39-year-old male patient (HCMC) made a mark in the organ transplant history of Cho Ray Hospital when it became the first lung transplant in the Southern region.

Two corneas were transferred to Hue Central Hospital, helping two blind patients regain their sight.

The first lung transplant in the South also opened an important premise for complex organ transplant techniques. Photo: BVCC

Before they could rest, on the night of November 7, Cho Ray Hospital received information about another organ donation at Ba Ria General Hospital.

The donor was a 32-year-old male patient from Long Hai commune who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury due to a traffic accident. After hearing the medical team assess the patient's chances of being cured as 0%, the patient's relatives agreed to donate the patient's heart, lungs, liver and 2 kidneys to help other patients who unfortunately suffer from serious illnesses and are in need of a transplant.

In terms of management, Cho Ray Hospital has reported to the National Organ Transplant Coordination Center to select and coordinate donated organs according to regulations. The heart and two kidneys were coordinated to Cho Ray Hospital, the liver was divided in half (one coordinated to Hue and one coordinated to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City), and the lungs were coordinated to the Central Lung Institute.

Organ transport record – 64 minutes from Ba Ria to Ho Chi Minh City

Immediately after confirming the donor source, the National Organ Transplant Coordination Center, Ba Ria Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital, with the support of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Vietnam Airlines and Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police, immediately implemented a plan to coordinate and transport the organs.

After only 64 minutes, the heart and two kidneys were brought to Cho Ray Hospital, just in time for the "golden" time to transplant into a heart failure patient.

"This is a record number in the history of organ transport in Vietnam" - said a representative of the Coordination Center.

A special point is that the surgical team of the Central Lung Institute did not have time to travel to the South to receive the organ.

Immediately, the surgical team of Cho Ray Hospital received, preserved and transported the lungs to Hanoi, ensuring absolute safety.

The success of the two consecutive organ donation and transplant cases above is a living proof of the humanitarian spirit and dedication of Vietnamese medicine.

In particular, the first lung transplant performed at Cho Ray Hospital opened an important turning point in the field of organ donation and transplantation in the Southern region. From there, it laid the foundation for continuing to write "miracles of resurrection", bringing the chance of life to many patients who are fighting the disease every day.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/benh-vien-cho-ray-thuc-hien-thanh-cong-7-ca-ghep-tang-trong-3-ngay-ghi-dau-ca-ghep-phoi-dau-tien-o-phia-nam-169251111071713141.htm