Miraculous revival thanks to lung and heart transplant

The longest living lung transplant recipient or the first person to receive a simultaneous heart-lung transplant in Vietnam, people who were once on the brink of life and death can now smile, be healthy, hold hands and send their gratitude to the organ donors and doctors.

Ms. Q. (middle) is the first person to receive a simultaneous heart and lung transplant at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital - Photo: BVCC

This special meeting is not only a meeting of lucky fates, but also a testament to the progress of Vietnamese medicine on the world organ transplant map.

The miraculous journey of two "revived" lungs

Among the patients who received lung transplants 5 years ago, Mr. Nguyen Van Kh. (38 years old, Hanoi ) could not help but be moved when meeting the doctors who "gave him a second life". Before the transplant, he weighed only 40kg, had to live on a ventilator, and his body was almost exhausted due to the end-stage bronchiectasis.

The 15-hour double lung transplant gave him a chance to start his life over again. Five years later, Mr. Kh. is now able to walk, take care of himself, and do light chores to help his family.
"The day I was able to breathe on my own without a ventilator, I burst into tears. That was the moment I knew I was born a second time," he recalled with tears in his eyes.

Sharing the same happiness, Ms. PTH, who had a late-detected atrial septal defect, both lungs severely damaged, and her body always turned purple due to lack of oxygen, overcame a 12-hour lung transplant.

In the same surgery, doctors transplanted two lungs and patched the atrial septal defect - this success was the premise for the first heart-lung transplant in Vietnam later.

Ms. H. said she did not think she could be healthy after 5 years. During those 5 years, there was not a moment when she did not feel grateful to the person who donated her lungs and the doctors. "I have been able to live and be happy with my family for so many more years," Ms. H. shared.

To stay alive, both patients must strictly adhere to the treatment regimen - from taking anti-rejection drugs, regular check-ups, to rehabilitation exercises. After returning to daily life, they also became active members of the Organ Transplant Patient Club - a place to share experiences and give strength to those waiting for a miracle.

The first simultaneous heart-lung transplant

Ms. Tran Nhu Q. (38 years old) was once warned by doctors that her life was only a matter of days. She suffered from Eisenmenger syndrome, irreversible right heart failure and severe tricuspid regurgitation. Every breath was a battle, all other treatments had become meaningless.

In a moment of despair, the last hope flashed: a simultaneous heart and lung transplant - a technique that is extremely rare even in the world, with only about 100 cases per year.

The surgery began with the participation of dozens of doctors and medical staff from different specialties: cardiology, thoracic, anesthesia, resuscitation, respiratory, nutrition, rehabilitation... During 7 stressful hours, Ms. Q's entire heart and two lungs were replaced with a healthy heart and lungs from an organ donor.

After surgery, Ms. Q. faced a new challenge: controlling infections due to the need to use high doses of immunosuppressants. Doctors continuously monitored, balanced medications, and performed intensive resuscitation, combined with ultrafiltration to treat kidney failure.

The moment Ms. Q. took a deep breath with her new lungs, the whole team burst into tears. "Being revived is the most miraculous thing in my life. I am grateful to the organ donor who gave me this chance to live. Thank you to the doctors who did not give up. Every breath today is a priceless gift" - Ms. Q. emotionally shared on the day of discharge from the hospital, after 46 days of fighting bravely.

Mr. Duong Duc Hung, Director of Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, shared the success of the simultaneous heart-lung transplant, affirming that Vietnam has mastered one of the most difficult techniques in modern medicine. "This is a new door for patients with end-stage heart and lung diseases, who previously could only wait for their fate," he said.

Graphics: T.DAT

Milestones of the organ transplant journey

Not only making a miracle with the heart-lung transplant, Viet Duc Hospital has reached the milestone of successfully performing the 100th heart transplant.

Dr. Hung shared that heart transplants, once considered a technique only available in countries with advanced medical systems, have now become routine at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital. From the first transplant, doctors have gone through a 13-year journey to reach the milestone of 100 successful heart transplants.

If previously it took the whole country more than a decade to have 100 cases of organ donation from brain-dead people, then in just two years 2024 - 2025, in Viet Duc alone there were 50 more cases.

The hospital also successfully performed a heart transplant on the oldest patient (70 years old) with many complex underlying diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney failure - which are considered to have a low survival rate according to international recommendations. The youngest patient to receive a heart transplant was 7 years old.

Behind these numbers is a dramatic change in public awareness. Many families, amidst the pain of loss, have courageously agreed to donate their loved ones’ organs, giving life to other patients.

Thanks to the increased organ supply, the hospital has made breakthroughs. "Previously, only completely healthy hearts were transplanted, but now doctors can transplant from acutely failing hearts, then support recovery with ECMO - artificial heart-lung technique. This significantly expands the chance of saving the lives of patients with end-stage heart failure," said Mr. Hung.

Surpassing the milestone of 100 heart transplants, Viet Duc not only saved the lives of hundreds of patients but also became a training and technology transfer center for major hospitals such as Cho Ray and Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, bringing heart transplant techniques closer to people across the country.

Continue writing the story of life...

Professor Nguyen Tien Quyet - former Director of Viet Duc Hospital, who has been involved in organ transplants since the early days (1992) - emotionally recalled: "What motivates us is the patient. I once met a 12-year-old boy with congenital biliary atresia. When he was admitted to the hospital, he said: "Please save me, otherwise I cannot live." It was the patient's desire to live that made us never stop."

Currently, the number of organ donors from brain-dead people in Vietnam has increased but only accounts for about 10%. Professor Quyet expressed his hope that more people will register to donate organs to give other patients a chance to live, helping to continue the miraculous story.

Patients who were once on the brink of death now smile brightly, breathe fully, and move on to a new journey.

Every beating heart, every breath of a patient today is a testament to the power of modern medicine and the compassion of the community. Organ donors have passed away, but a part of their body continues to live, continues to love and continues to write the story of life in new forms.

WILLOW

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoi-sinh-ky-dieu-nho-ghep-phoi-ghep-tim-2025092322422012.htm