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A team of doctors perfomed the first lung transplant from a brain dead donor
in Việt Nam at the 108 Military Central Hospital. (Photo courtesy of 108
Military Central Hospital)
A team of 60 medical experts and doctors, led by Prof. Mai Hong Bang, director
of 108 Military Central Hospital took part in performing the transplant on
February 26, 2018.
Tran Ngoc Hanh, 52, from Nam Định province became the first Vietnamese to
receive two lung transplants from a brain dead donor.
Hanh was diagnosed with severe respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. His condition was serious, and a lung transplant was the only
way to save his life. But it was a challenge to the doctors.
The donor is a brain dead 45-year-old man, who has donated many organs,
including kidneys, heart and corneas, for transplant for up to six patients.
Nearly 20 days after the eight-hour transplant, Hanh’s health is in good
condition. He can eat porridge and has good contact, hemodynamic stability and
good respiratory function. An X-ray result shows that both the lungs have
integrated with the recipient’s body, and Hanh is able to walk and talk.
From the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, Hanh said his health had recovered
70-80 per cent. “I can now breathe easily. I am much better than before, thanks
to the doctors who helped me live,” he said.
“Lung transplant still has been a challenge for Vietnam’s medical sector,” said
Prof. Bang.
He said lung transplant is considered the most difficult technique in the field
of organ transplantation, even for countries with advanced medical facilities in
the world.
“On behalf of the doctor’s team, I would like to say that we are very happy to
have performed the first lung transplant from a brain dead donor. From now on,
we can handle difficult procedures involving tissue and organ transplant,” said
Prof. Bang.
He further said this was not just a normal case of lung transplant from a brain
dead donor but a special case of multi-organ transplant where many organs, such
as lungs, kidneys and cornea, from a donor were transplanted to six patients in
different cities at the same time. Of this, two lungs and a cornea were
transplanted in two patients at the 108 Military Central Hospital.
The hospital collaborated with the National Organ and Tissue Transplantation
Collaboration Centre, Viet Duc hospital in Hanoi and Cho Ray hospital in HCM
City to preserve and send the kidneys and heart to HCM City by air to be
transplanted in two other patients at Cho Ray Hospital.
Bang said that the organs were successfully transplanted in six patients in
three hospitals. This was possible due to the preparation of human resource and
medical facilities, logistics, good collaboration between relevant bodies and
support of leading foreign experts.
To date, the hospital has successfully performed 18 kidney, one liver, 27 marrow
and 14 corneal transplants. Bang said the success of the lung transplant was a
result of the hospital’s National Scientific Research project. In coming years,
the hospital plans to focus on research and master the transplants of the
uterus, intestines and heart.
Source: VNA
