Hope for organ transplant patients in the Mekong Delta

For the first time in the Mekong Delta, the CUSA ultrasonic scalpel was successfully applied in liver surgery. A few days earlier, the 12th kidney transplant was also successfully performed here. These professional advances have helped patients access advanced technology and created the premise for the West to gradually master organ transplant techniques.

Doctors in Can Tho perform liver surgery using CUSA ultrasonic scalpel.

On August 5, Can Tho Central General Hospital successfully deployed the CUSA (Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator) in liver resection surgery for liver cancer patients, marking the first time this technology has been applied in the Mekong Delta region.

This is a 57-year-old patient, living in Can Tho, transferred from the grassroots level to Can Tho Central General Hospital on July 21, 2025. Doctors diagnosed the patient with hepatocellular carcinoma, localized in the right liver in the subsegment VII-VIII region and indicated radical surgery to resect the right liver using a CUSA ultrasonic scalpel to assist in separating the liver parenchyma.

The surgery was performed safely. The patient lost little blood and no significant complications were recorded. Currently, the male patient is recovering well after surgery and is expected to be discharged in the next few days.

Patients undergoing liver resection may be discharged in the next few days.

Doctors at Can Tho Central General Hospital said that liver resection is a radical treatment for liver cancer, with a 5-year survival rate of about 60.8%-74%. This is a complicated surgery due to difficulties in determining anatomical boundaries and bleeding.

Specialist Doctor 2 Le Hoang Phuc, Head of General Planning Department (Can Tho Central General Hospital) said that nationwide, there are currently about 40 CUSA ultrasonic scalpel systems equipped at central hospitals such as: Viet Duc, Cho Ray, Hue Central...

By combining expertise with modern technology, the implementation of this system at Can Tho Central General Hospital not only helps improve the professional capacity of hepatobiliary surgery in the Mekong Delta region but also contributes to reducing the load on upper levels.

In the hospital's in-depth development strategy, mastering the CUSA ultrasonic scalpel system is considered an important step in the roadmap to prepare for liver transplantation in the Mekong Delta from 2026.

The joy of the successful liver surgery was doubled because 4 days earlier, Can Tho Central General Hospital successfully performed the 12th kidney transplant at the hospital, which was also the 12th successful transplant in the Mekong Delta.

The team performed the first kidney transplant in the Mekong Delta.

The patient is a teacher named LNY, 35 years old, residing in Ca Mau province. Before that, teacher Y had to live nearly 6 years with end-stage chronic kidney failure.

Ms. Y said that since being diagnosed with end-stage chronic kidney failure, she has had to frequently travel from Ca Mau to Cho Ray Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City) for treatment.

The illness lasted for a long time, her health gradually declined, the travel distance was long and expensive, Ms. Y thought she was hopeless. Hope was rekindled when she learned that on May 9, 2024, the first kidney transplant in the Mekong Delta was successfully performed.

I feel like I have come back to life. My health has improved significantly, I have a good appetite, and I feel relaxed. I hope to get well soon so I can return to the podium. Treating kidney failure is a long and arduous journey, but you just need to keep your spirits up, not give up hope, and put your trust in the doctors.

Kidney transplant patient LNY (Ca Mau)

After 5 months of preparation, medical treatment, nutrition and completion of legal procedures, the kidney transplant of Ms. Y and her biological mother was successfully performed by doctors and Can Tho Central General Hospital with the support of experts from Cho Ray Hospital.

"I feel like I've been reborn. My health has improved significantly, I have a good appetite, and I feel relaxed. I hope to get well soon so I can return to the podium. Treating kidney failure is a long and arduous journey, but you just need to stay strong, not give up hope, and put your trust in the doctors," said Ms. Y.

Since the first kidney transplant, many patients waiting for organ transplants in the Mekong Delta have had more hope. Specialist Doctor 2 Pham Thanh Phong, Deputy Director of Can Tho Central General Hospital, said that in order to have the first successful transplant, the hospital carefully prepared in all aspects, from legal basis, professional team, facilities to equipment.

Can Tho Central General Hospital provides organ transplant consultation for patients with end-stage chronic kidney failure at Kien Giang General Hospital.

Since then, many more patients have been saved. After many years of struggling with illness, upon hearing that kidney transplants were available in Can Tho, Ms. D.TX (living in Can Tho) immediately registered and was scheduled for a kidney transplant 7 months later. After the transplant, her follow-up visits were carried out regularly and conveniently.

After 4 months since the kidney transplant, Ms. D.T. X's health has stabilized and she can work normally.

"Before, thinking about having to go to hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City for a kidney transplant, I was very worried. The distance was long, and my health was not good due to many underlying diseases. Being able to receive treatment in the Mekong Delta brings a lot of hope to patients like me. Not only in terms of health, but also in terms of travel and treatment costs," Ms. X shared.

Can Tho Central General Hospital is the first medical facility in the Southwest region to open a registration point for receiving tissues and organs.

According to the leader of Can Tho Central General Hospital, to meet the requirements for a kidney transplant center established under the regulations of the Ministry of Health, the hospital has gradually built infrastructure, invested in equipment and machinery, and trained a team of specialists from doctors to nurses.

The success of the first kidney transplant marked a particularly important milestone in professional development in the Mekong Delta in general and Can Tho Central General Hospital in particular.

Specialist Doctor 2 Pham Thanh Phong, Deputy Director of Can Tho Central General Hospital

Regarding human resources, the hospital has trained 18 doctors, 21 nurses, and technicians from surgery to internal medicine, anesthesia, resuscitation, monitoring, care, and treatment of post-transplant diseases.

"The success of the first kidney transplant marked a particularly important milestone in professional development in the Mekong Delta in general and Can Tho Central General Hospital in particular," Specialist Doctor 2 Pham Thanh Phong, Deputy Director of Can Tho Central General Hospital said.

Each successful surgery, patient recovery, and health has become a medical mark, mastering high technology of doctors in the West. With steady progress in expertise, facilities and the companionship of major medical centers, the Mekong Delta is gradually forming an on-site organ transplant network, bringing hope to countless patients.

After the 12th successful transplant, Can Tho Central General Hospital has completed preparations to conduct the 13th and 14th transplants at the end of August.

In addition, the hospital also cooperates with Cho Ray Hospital to become a unit to receive registration for organ and tissue donation for humanitarian purposes. Registration is done directly and online. This is the first hospital in the Southwest region to open a registration point to receive organs and tissues.

HOANG PHAN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/niem-hy-vong-cho-nguoi-benh-ghep-tang-tai-dong-bang-song-cuu-long-post898834.html