108 Central Military Hospital has just successfully performed a liver transplant for a 32-year-old male patient using the method of assisted endoscopic surgery.
In July 2025, when going for a regular health check-up, the patient discovered a large liver tumor. Through examination and testing, the patient was diagnosed with: right liver cell carcinoma (T4N0M0) on the basis of chronic hepatitis B. The patient had a liver tumor nodule on July 10 while waiting for a transplant.
On September 9, doctors performed a liver transplant to a patient from a living donor. The donor underwent endoscopic surgery to remove the right liver transplant. For those who receive assisted endoscopic surgery: cut the entire liver through endoscopy, then doctors open the middle white line on the small navel to remove the graft and perform a mouth to connect blood vessels and gallbladder
This is the 9th transplant application of this advanced technique, after the first infection in November 2023 - also marking the first time Vietnam has applied endoscopic surgery to support liver recipients.
Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Quang - Deputy Head of the Department of liver - Surgery - Thyroid - Immunology - said: "This is the 9th shift we have performed this technique. Endoscopic surgery supports the combination of the advantage of exaggerated endoscopic observation and the ability to operate directly of open surgery, helping to handle difficult steps in a narrow space, better control bleeding, reduce the risk of infection, shorten recovery time and ensure aesthetics".
liver transplantation is the final solution for many end-stage liver diseases. The use of endoscopic surgery helps reduce pain after surgery, shorten hospital stay, limit scarring and recover quickly. The transplant on September 9 was performed with a piece of right liver from a living donor. The doctor performed a complete liver catage via endoscopy, only opening a small pathway on the navel to remove the graft and connect blood vessels and gallstones.
The world's first case of a complete liver transplant by endoscopic surgery was performed in Korea in 2022. In Vietnam, 108 Central Military Hospital is a pioneer in removing live liver fragments from donors and applying endoscopy to support recipients. The new success affirms the capacity of the medical team, while opening up the prospect of a complete endoscopic liver transplant, minimizing invasion, and improving the quality of life for patients.
