Two lung transplants in one day - a turning point in Vietnamese medicine

SKĐS - In just one day, at the Central Lung Hospital, two successful lung transplants were performed in parallel - an unprecedented feat in Vietnam.

Commenting on this success, Director of the Central Lung Hospital, Dr. Dinh Van Luong, said that this is the first time in Vietnam that two lung transplants have been successfully performed in one day. "The success of these two transplants has increased the total number of successful lung transplants of the Hospital to nine, putting Vietnam on the list of major lung transplant centers in the world .", Dr. Dinh Van Luong said.

Doctors are performing a lung transplant.

This success not only saved the lives of two patients on the brink of life and death, but also affirmed the Vietnamese medical team's ability to master advanced lung transplant techniques, on par with the world's leading organ transplant centers.

"Racing against time" to regain breath for the patient

On November 9, 2025, when most of the doctors and nurses of the Central Lung Hospital were in Can Tho attending the National Lung Disease Scientific Conference, news of two sources of donated lungs from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City was urgently sent. Without a moment's hesitation, the lung transplant team of 12 people immediately set off, returning to the hospital with hundreds of doctors to perform lung transplants to save the lives of two patients.

Dr. Dinh Van Luong, Director of the Central Lung Hospital, participated in the lung transplant.

Sharing with reporter Dr. Dinh Van Luong, BSCC, he said that from the time the donated organ is removed from the human body, the time of hot and cold blood deficiency of the organ must be guaranteed to not exceed 10 hours. Therefore, when there is a source of donated organs, an entire "machine" must be operated synchronously, mobilizing the fastest human resources and equipment ready with the sole goal of successfully transplanting the patient, not wasting precious organs.

At 4:15 p.m. the same day, in Hanoi , the lungs of a 55-year-old soldier were transplanted into a 48-year-old female patient. The patient had multiple bronchiectasis and had faced pneumothorax many times. The patient had a history of type 2 diabetes, and her lungs were damaged since 2023. In July 2024, she was indicated for a lung transplant and was put on the transplant waiting list.

The surgery lasted 8 hours with the coordination of dozens of experts, surgeons and medical staff. When the endotracheal tube was removed, the patient was able to breathe on his own with the new lungs - the priceless gift of life.

Patients are closely monitored post-operatively.

Meanwhile, at the same time, a "cross-Vietnam" journey was taking place. The lungs of a 32-year-old donor from Ba Ria were urgently transported by air to Hanoi, with the smooth coordination of the National Organ Transplant Coordination Center, Cho Ray Hospital, Vietnam Airlines, Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police and the Central Lung Hospital. After only 6 hours of travel, the donated organs arrived safely in time to be transplanted into a male patient (48 years old, from Hai Phong) who had suffered from COPD for many years and had to use oxygen at home for two years. The overnight surgery lasted 9 hours until dawn on November 10 - a life-and-death "marathon" whose final victory belonged to the perseverance and dedication of the medical staff.

Pride: Vietnam on the world lung transplant map

Two successful parallel lung transplants have brought the total number of lung transplants performed at the Central Lung Hospital to nine, all of which meet the highest standards according to the evaluation system of the UCSF Lung Transplant Center - University of California, San Francisco (USA).

Sharing more about the two lung transplants that marked a new milestone in the hospital's medical achievements, Dr. Dinh Van Luong said that mobilizing all human resources and equipment for two major surgeries within the limited time of organ donation was an effort and brought great results, saving two lives. "If these two patients had not received timely organ transplants, their life expectancy would have been measured in months," said Dr. Dinh Van Luong.

Dr. Dinh Van Luong informed the press about two parallel lung transplants at the hospital.

In addition, the post-operative process after lung transplant must be strictly controlled. "Unlike other organs such as liver and heart transplants - which are closed organs in the body, infection control for lung transplants is carried out minute by minute. Because the lungs are breathing and in direct contact with the outside environment, they are susceptible to infection.", Dr. Dinh Van Luong explained.

After the transplant, both patients had to stay in a positive pressure room, with air flowing in only one direction and absolutely sterile. Doctors who come into contact with the patients had to follow a 4-cycle sterile procedure.

To achieve today's success, in addition to the team of doctors and nurses of the Central Lung Hospital, there is the support and cooperation of consultants, doctors and nurses who take organs, transport, directly transplant organs, post-surgery, and leading experts from hospitals such as Hospital 108, Hospital E, Cho Ray Hospital, etc. The close and professional coordination between hospitals, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, has demonstrated the spirit of solidarity and intelligence of Vietnam in the journey to save the lives of patients. Up to now, it can be affirmed that Vietnam has risen to master the process and can perform lung transplants routinely like in developed countries.

Dr. Dinh Van Luong added that the Central Lung Hospital is not only the leading facility in the treatment of tuberculosis and lung diseases, but also the first center that can perform multiple lung transplants at the same time. The hospital is moving towards establishing a Regional Lung Transplant Center, aiming to transfer technology to other hospitals and expand to the Southeast Asia region. The success of the two parallel lung transplants is not only the achievement of a single team, but also the common achievement of Vietnamese medicine.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/mot-ngay-2-ca-ghep-phoi-buoc-ngoat-cua-y-hoc-viet-nam-169251111203329338.htm