On May 11, Ho Chi Minh City University Medical Center Hospital said that the unit had just successfully performed a heart transplant, saving a 23-year-old male patient with end-stage heart failure. This is also the 10th successful heart transplant performed at the hospital.
The patient was admitted to the hospital in a state of severe progression of heart failure, requiring continuous vasopressors and was put on the emergency heart transplant waiting list of the National Coordinating Center for Human tissue and organ transplantation. However, during the waiting period, there was still no suitable donated heart.
8 days before the heart transplant, the patient fell into cardiac arrest. Doctors had to deploy ECMO to maintain circulation and temporary life while waiting for a heart transplant opportunity.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Dinh - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City University Medical Center Hospital said that patients must maintain ECMO in a state of extreme heart failure, the risk of death increases over time.
At this time, information about the case of brain death organ donation at Quang Ninh General Hospital opened up a chance of survival for the patient. However, this is a particularly difficult transplant because the organ transportation distance is very far, and prolonged cold ischemia can significantly affect the heart's recovery ability after transplantation.
After consultation, the team decided to receive donated hearts, and at the same time, proactively prepared resuscitation and circulatory support plans to ensure maximum safety for patients during and after transplantation.
The donated heart was transported by air from Hai Phong to Ho Chi Minh City in about 2 hours, then continued to be supported by traffic police to open the way to quickly take it from Tan Son Nhat airport to the hospital in just over 9 minutes.
The recipient was prepared by the heart transplant team in the operating room. Only about 50 minutes later, the donated heart was successfully transplanted and began to beat again in the patient's chest on the evening of May 10.
The hospital acknowledges and appreciates the noble organ donation gesture of the donor's family; the urgent coordination of Quang Ninh General Hospital, functional forces and related units has created a meaningful journey of organ transport across Vietnam, contributing to regaining the patient's chance of survival.
