According to medical records, the patient was admitted to the hospital in a state of thyroid cancer encroaching on the trachea, causing obvious airway stenosis and potentially complete obstruction. The tumor not only spread in the thyroid gland but also penetrated deep into the trachea, increasing the risk of acute respiratory failure, even life-threatening.
Another problem that makes the situation complicated is that the tumor has invaded the esophageal region, causing patients to feed through nasal and stomach catheters during the recovery phase.
Faced with that risk, the team of the Department of Thyroid Surgery - Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital performed surgery to remove the entire thyroid gland, scraping the cervical lymph nodes on both sides and the central lymph node. At the same time, doctors removed the invasive trachea and performed reattachment to restore the airway.
BSCKII. Pham Hung - Deputy Head of Department, Head of Department of Thyroid Surgery, Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital said that this is a particularly difficult surgery, especially in the anesthesia and airway control stages.
The biggest challenge is to ensure the airway during the endotracheal intubation. If not controlled well, the tumor may be pushed deep, causing obstruction right on the operating table. Therefore, the team must coordinate very closely and handle it accurately step by step," shared Dr. Hung.
The surgery lasted about 5 hours, requiring inter-specialized coordination between the surgeon and anesthesiologist.
By June 4, 2026, nearly 10 days after surgery, the patient recovered positively, vital signs were stable, no longer had hoarseness like before surgery and continued to be monitored and treated according to the protocol.
The success of the surgery not only helped remove the dangerous tumor but also opened up opportunities for survival and improved the quality of life for patients. This is also proof of the capacity of the medical team of Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital to handle complex cancer cases.
