Shot in the chest, lucky man was rescued in time

Mr. EUK, 48, was shot in the chest while in Cambodia. He was transferred to FV Hospital, bleeding profusely. A three-hour surgery was urgently performed to save his life.

"If the bullet had been off by just a few millimeters, the patient might not have survived."

Immediately after the accident, the patient was given first aid at a local hospital in Cambodia, transfused with a liter of blood and had his pleura drained. However, he continued to bleed steadily at a rate of 300ml per day for two consecutive days. Due to the risk of prolonged blood loss and infection, his family transferred him to FV Hospital.

After a chest CT scan, the team was surprised to discover that the bullet was still in the body after penetrating the chest. "If the bullet's path deviates by just a few millimeters, the patient may no longer be alive" - ​​Master - Doctor Luong Ngoc Trung, Head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Vascular and Endovascular Intervention, FV Hospital assessment of patient condition

The bullet penetrated and destroyed the right lung lobe and remained in the patient's body.

PHOTO: BSCC

"This is a monolithic warhead, not broken like bomb fragments. When flying, it spins to create a wound , the entrance is small but the exit is very wide. and destroy many structures along the way. . That is also the reason why blood kept oozing out. The bullet went through the front of the chest, through the rib cage, through the two lobes of the lung, and then got stuck near the shoulder blade. It tore the pericardium but fortunately it did not hit the heart or a major blood vessel," Dr. Trung explained .

Doctors quickly performed the procedure . In the emergency room, the bullet was removed to avoid infection and poisoning . After the bullet was removed, the patient's hemodynamics were stable but he still bled about 100 - 300ml per day.

Cut 2/3 of the right lung to stop the bleeding

According to Dr. Trung, the bullet is a foreign object with a very high risk of infection and poisoning . Even though it was removed, the bullet's path through the lung continued to bleed. The team was forced to make the decision to perform lung surgery .

"If not operated on, the blood will continue to leak, which can cause infection and abscesses. We are also not sure if the bullet will damage the blood vessels in the lungs. In the long term, it can create a venous fistula. Therefore, this wound cannot be preserved, but must be cut . "

Before surgery, the team carefully prepared the equipment, performed bronchoscopy, and assessed the injury. The bronchoscopy results showed no serious injury to the large airway. Exploration showed no injury to the large blood vessels. The main injury was the bullet penetrating the lung lobe.

Doctor Luong Ngoc Trung and the surgical team performed endoscopic lobectomy for the patient.

PHOTO: FV

The surgery lasted about three hours. The team used a small 3cm single-port endoscopic technique (Uniport VATS). to reduce invasiveness. The doctor determined the lesion, then removed two lobes of the lung, equivalent to 2/3 of the right lung.

Fortunately, the patient did not lose much blood during surgery and did not need a blood transfusion . was discharged from the hospital just one week after surgery. Despite losing most of his right lung, the patient was still able to function and breathe normally after the postoperative period.

The patient returned for a check-up in good health.

PHOTO: FV

"The patient is young and in good health. The left lung is fully functional. After surgery, the patient needs antibiotic treatment to prevent infection and routine post-operative care . No major complications occurred , " Dr. Trung shared.

The surgery to save the life of a patient shot in the chest is one of many special surgeries performed at the Department. Vascular and Thoracic Surgery , FV Hospital - where the golden hands in thoracic surgery in Vietnam gather.

K Hoa is currently cooperating with O 2 Healthcare Group (Singapore) to implement treatment at Regional Thoracic Surgery Center at FV Hospital. This is an important step to update the most advanced techniques from Singapore in treating complex thoracic diseases such as trauma, lung cancer, pneumothorax , etc.

MSc-BSCK2 Luong Ngoc Trung is an expert with over 20 years of experience in treating chest diseases, from trauma, pneumothorax, lung cancer to critical emergency cases. With the philosophy of "each surgery is a new chance to live", Dr. Trung not only performs surgery with talent but also with dedication to patients.

With a team of excellent doctors, interdisciplinary coordination and modern medical technology, FV is increasingly affirming its role as a specialized chest treatment center on par with major hospitals in Southeast Asia.

For more information on the treatment of diseases related to the chest and blood vessels, readers can contact the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Vascular and Endovascular Intervention, FV Hospital or by phone (028)35113333 .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bi-trung-dan-xuyen-nguc-nguoi-dan-ong-may-man-duoc-cuu-chua-kip-thoi-185250528170628314.htm