Double forearm transplant: New miracle of Vietnam’s health sector

The double forearm transplant for an 18-year-old patient (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Hanoi (VNA) – Doctors at the Hanoi-based Military Central Hospital 108 has successfully conducted first double arm transplant in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

This is also the fourth time the hospital has implemented organ procurement and transplant at the same time. The organs, which were taken from a brain-dead donor, were transplanted to six patients.

Twelve operations were conducted simultaneously with the participation of more than 150 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and technicians.

The Military Central Hospital 108 has become the first medical facility in Vietnam and Southeast Asia to successfully perform a double forearm transplant on an 18 year-old male patient.

Wishing for normal arms

Human organ transplantation is one of the most successful advances in the 20th century worldwide, as dozens of thousands of patients have been saved.

Vietnam has made strides in tissue and organ procurement and transplantation as major accomplishments in the field have been on the rise.

The transplantations were conducted on September 16 and all recipients are in stable conditions.

One of them was a man who lost his forearms three years ago when he was nearly 15, due to injuries he sustained in an accidental explosion. After both of his armed were amputated, he has faced difficulties in his daily life and been unable to pursue his educational dreams.

“Ever since, I always wish to have normal limbs for my daily activities and lead a life like everybody,” he said.

The young man before the surgery, with both his arms amputated (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Fortunately, his dream has turned into a reality. He received forearms transplant thanks to the humane gesture of the donor and family members.

The surgery was an outstanding success in the field of limb transplantation in Vietnam after the success of the first limb transplant from a live donor this January also conducted by the military hospital.

More than 150 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and technicians join operations

The organs, which were taken from a brain-dead donor, were transplanted to six patients on September 16.

The recipients included a patient diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and another with acute liver failure against a background of cirrhosis due to a hepatitis B virus infection. Two kidney transplants were done for two separate patients with end-stage chronic renal failure.

The transplants were done at the Hanoi-based Military Central Hospital 108. The hospital, in coordination with the National Coordinating Centre for Human Organ Transplantation, also carried out a heart transplant for a patient with end-stage dilated myocarditis at the Hanoi-based Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital.

After one day of preparation and more than 10 hours of surgery, over 150 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and technicians of the hospital worked closely with staff at the Central Lung Hospital to successfully perform the fourth organ transplantation.

Dr Mai Hong Bang, Director of the Military Central Hospital 108 said it is a major battle which requires close collaboration between departments. Twelve operations were conducted simultaneously with the participation of more than 150 staff members. All of the operations were carried out smoothly.

The lung transplant recipient was a 54-year-old male patient suffering from primary pulmonary fibrosis two years ago. The disease caused a severe oxygen shortage to his body and a transplant is a sole opportunity for him to sustain his life.

Pulmonary transplantation is a difficult practice, even for countries with most well-developed health care system in the world, Bang added.

Meanwhile, the liver transplant is the 51st one successfully carried out by doctors at the military hospital.

At present, such operations are performed regularly at the hospital, especially with liver donated by living persons, as 14 cases have been successfully carried out so far.

More than 150 physicians at the Military Central Hospital 108 performed take part in the 10-hour surgery. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Afterwards, all the patients are in stable health condition. The liver and kidney transplant patients were discharged three weeks after surgery, and the lung recipients were discharged four weeks after the procedure.

For the limb transplant recipient, nearly two months after the surgery, his wounds have healed and the limbs are adapting well. The patient is able to hold things and use a mobile phone. He still needs to undergo more physical therapy to improve his range of movement.

The surgery was an outstanding success in the field of limb transplantation in Vietnam after the success of the first limb transplant from a live donor this January.

As of October this year, doctors at the hospital had performed 240 transplantations, including 69 kidney, 62 stem cell, 36 marrow, 17 cornea, three pulmonary and two limb transplants. After the transplants, all the patients are in stable health conditions and recover well./.