The 17-year journey of a young girl fighting illness
A 20-year-old female patient in Hanoi, with acute stiff giastitis; the liver donor was the patient's biological father. This success marks an important step forward in the liver transplant industry in Vietnam.
Since the age of 3, the patient has had jaundice and yellow eyes and has been treated at the National Children's Hospital. In 2015, liver biochemistry gave the result of advanced hyperlipidemia - a chronic, progressive disease that narrows the giallo-lyrical and exogenous tract system, leading to prolonged bills and cirrhosis.
In 2017 and 2019, the patient was treated with stem cells twice to improve liver function. However, a week before being admitted to 108 Central Military Hospital, his condition of jaundice, yellow eyes and lower rib abdominal pain had to recur severely.
Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Quang, Deputy Head of the Department of liver - Thyroid - Immunology, 108 Central Military Hospital, said: liver transplantation is the only method that can improve the prognosis and quality of life for end-stage patients.
After 17 years of accompanying their child, the family decided that the father would give the child a liver. However, the father and son were not in good blood type, posing a challenging problem for the liver transplant team.
To date, 108 Central Military Hospital has performed 3 cases of liver transplants with different blood types: 2 cases in children and 1 case in adults. However, according to Associate Professor. Dr. Vu Van Quang, adverse blood group transplantation in adults is complicated because adults have high levels of antibodies against A/B resistance, with a strong risk of blood clotting. The adult immune system creates an immunomemory, which can replace dangerous secondary immunity. The risk of gallbladder complications, blood vessels and infections is higher...
Before surgery, the patient was treated with Rituximab and thayated with soy sauce to optimize transplant conditions. During the surgery, the surgical team focused on protecting endotests, washing the liver thoroughly, ensuring good blood irrigation and accurate mat joint connection. After surgery, the patient was strictly controlled for antibodies and risks of complications.
The liver transplant lasted 7 hours, with the coordination of many specialties. The father underwent endoscopic surgery to remove the right liver piece - the technique requires very high precision.
Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Quang shared: This is the first consecutive liver transplant in adults at the hospital, and also the second in the country. The case had many difficulties but we overcame them. This success not only brings a new life to a patient, but also opens up opportunities for many other cases that cannot find a suitable blood type donor.
