Lung transplant patient practices rehabilitation - Photo: VGP/QH
At the ceremony to celebrate the 116th birthday of Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach, the first Minister of Health , former Director of the Central Tuberculosis Institute - the predecessor of the Central Lung Hospital and the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the Lung Transplant Center, Dr. Dinh Van Luong, Director of the Central Lung Hospital, said that these two special major surgeries have increased the total number of successful lung transplants of the Central Lung Hospital to 6.
Nationwide, after more than 30 years of developing organ transplant techniques, Vietnam has performed more than 9,000 cases, but only 14 of these were lung transplants. In 2024 alone, the Central Lung Hospital successfully performed 3 complete lung transplants for patients from brain-dead donors with the support of leading domestic experts.
The first lung transplant was performed by the Hospital 5 years ago. All of these transplants were successfully performed by the Hospital at the highest level according to the standards of the UCSF Lung Transplant Center, University of California at San Francisco - the most prestigious Medical Center in the United States.
"Each lung transplant is a major medical challenge, marking remarkable progress in the history of organ transplants in Vietnam's healthcare sector. In particular, six transplants meeting the highest standards in the US were successfully performed at the Central Lung Hospital, making lung transplants a routine technique at the hospital," emphasized Dr. Dinh Van Luong.
Two major surgeries lasted 7-8 hours - Photo: VGP/QH
Two transplants lasted 7-8 hours.
Two lucky female patients who have just successfully received lung transplants at the Central Lung Hospital are patient CTP, 54 years old, in Hanoi and patient QTT, 37 years old, in Thanh Hoa.
The lungs transplanted to the 54-year-old patient were coordinated, air-transported, and strictly preserved from People's Hospital 115 (HCMC) to the Central Lung Hospital. This is also the first "cross-Vietnam" lung transplant in our country.
After 6 hours of travel, at 10:37 p.m. on April 11, the lung organ from the donor, a 38-year-old male patient, was transplanted to the CTP patient in an 8-hour surgery, under the coordination of dozens of experts and surgeons.
Before the lung transplant, the patient had end-stage lung disease that no longer responded to medical treatments. From 2023, the patient began to breathe oxygen for 6 hours a day at home, with a very high mortality prognosis.
The second lung transplanted to patient QTT was received from a 35-year-old man (assessed to be brain dead at Bach Mai Hospital). After organ extraction, the lung transplant surgery lasted 7 hours, from 6pm on April 18 to 1am on April 19 and was successful.
Before the lung transplant, this female patient had leukomyomatosis (LAM). The patient had to breathe oxygen 14-16 hours a day for the past 2 months. The patient was at risk of death at any time if she did not receive a lung transplant.
After the lung transplant, the health indicators of both patients recovered well.
With the cooperation of experts, units, and domestic and international hospitals (E Hospital, Organ and Human Body Coordination Center, Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital, People's Hospital 115...), these two major surgeries have continued the miracles of lung transplants, which are typical achievements of the Vietnamese health sector, bringing great values to the health of patients and the people.
Dr. Dinh Van Luong speaks at the Anniversary Ceremony - Photo: VGP/TH
Realizing the construction of a regional lung transplant center
Five years ago, the Lung Transplant Center, Central Lung Hospital was established to "realize the dream" of lung transplants to save patients' lives. In particular, patient management before transplant and patient care after surgery are important factors that determine the survival of lung transplant patients.
The Center has mastered and made lung transplant techniques routine at the Hospital.
In the coming time, focusing on 2025, to complete the construction of the Regional Lung Transplant Center under the direction of the Prime Minister, Dr. Dinh Van Luong said that the Central Lung Hospital and the National Tuberculosis Control Program will urgently review the master plan, develop a master plan for the Central Lung Hospital, propose a plan to build and renovate the Hospital; complete the technical process, train and transfer organ transplant technology, pioneer in lung transplant techniques; focus on training high-quality medical human resources; continue to invest, purchase and innovate modern equipment...
Currently, there are about 900 patients nationwide waiting for lung transplants. It is known that the cost of a lung transplant in Vietnam is low compared to the world, but this cost is a huge financial burden, beyond the ability to pay for many families.
Therefore, in order for more patients to have access to lung transplant techniques, especially those in difficult circumstances, Dr. Dinh Van Luong said, we need a payment mechanism from health insurance and support from other socialized sources.
Thuy Ha
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/ky-tich-2-ca-dai-phau-ghep-phoi-thanh-cong-chi-trong-1-tuan-102250507143430414.htm
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