On National Day September 2nd, the festive atmosphere spread throughout the streets. Red flags with yellow stars fluttered, people took to the streets, many families took advantage of enjoying their holidays with their loved ones.
But at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, a special day begins in a very familiar way. Doctors and nurses are still present on time, quickly on their positions, ready to receive cases that may come at any time.
Even during the long holiday, doctors still perform severe emergency cases that need urgent treatment.
That is the simultaneous replacement of the hip and left shoulder joints for an 85-year-old man with a broken femur neck and complex left shoulder dislocation after a domestic accident. The patient has weak physical condition, many underlying diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, had 2 heart attacks, sequelae of stroke and severe anemia.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Manh Khanh, Chairman of the Vietnam Orthopedic Trauma Association, Deputy Director of Viet Duc Friendship Hospital shared: If surgery is not performed, prolonged pain and immobility can cause pneumonia, blood clots, ulcers, exhaustion and worsen the underlying condition. Meanwhile, performing two surgeries will make the patient uncomfortable with two anesthesia/anesthesia sessions. After a multi-specialized consultation, resuscitation and blood compensation, the team decided to replace both joints in one surgery.
Thanks to the close coordination between surgery and anesthesia and resuscitation, applying minimally invasive techniques, the surgery only lasts about 50 minutes, helping to reduce blood loss and postoperative pain. The surgery is still performed whether it is a holiday or a normal day.
No festival music, no fun or long reunion meals. Instead, there are urgent footsteps, professional exchanges, consultation calls and high concentration of the crews.
Each patient received must go through a fast and accurate process: From receiving, classifying the level of emergency, examination, initial treatment to prescribing subsequent treatment methods.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Manh Khanh said: In severe cases, the time is calculated in minutes. Doctors must quickly assess the condition, propose treatment plans and coordinate with many specialties to regain the patient's life chances.
There were times when the whole crew had almost no break. One emergency case was just treated, another case was brought in. Consultations took place continuously, each decision required accuracy and urgency.
During the holidays, the hospital is still brightly lit. On-duty rooms are still operating, corridors are still crowded, and blouse shirts are still busy in specialized areas.
An accident that occurs on a holiday still needs emergency care. A patient who suddenly becomes seriously ill still needs a doctor to be present. A critical case still needs immediate treatment, regardless of whether it is a normal day or National Day.
Behind each emergency case is a race against time. Behind each professional decision is the responsibility to save the patient's life.
While many people are enjoying their vacation, doctors at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital are still quietly staying in their positions.
