On August 21, doctors at 108 Central Military Hospital in collaboration with Xanh Pon General Hospital successfully performed a multiple organ removal and transplantation from a brain-dead donor and a heart transplant for patient L.V.L, 60 years old, with end-stage heart failure.
Color wheel revives life
The organ donor was a 33-year-old man who unfortunately passed away from a traumatic brain injury. That noble gesture has lit up hope for many patients.
At 3:00 p.m. on August 20, the Organ Transplant Center of 108 Central Military Hospital received coordination information from the National Organ Transplant Coordination Center. Immediately, specialized subcommittees were mobilized urgently, confirming the absolute heart transplant indication for patient L.
At 9:30 p.m. the same day, an internal medicine consultation was held.
At 1:00 p.m. on August 21, the heart collection team led by Dr. Ngo Vi Hai - Head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery and Dr. Ngo Tuan Anh - Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery (108 Central Military Hospital) went to Xanh Pon General Hospital.
At 16:30, the donated heart was taken and urgently transported to the 108 Central Military Hospital, in close coordination between the military medical force, police and traffic police.
At 6:30 p.m., the first beats rang out in the patient's chest.
After the transplant, the patient was alert, breathing on his own, blood flow was stable, and ultrasound showed good contractility of the transplanted heart. The overwhelming happiness came not only to the patient and family but also to the whole heart transplant crew, when witnessing a new heart reviving on a meaningful day.
The mission of military medicine in peacetime
The heart transplant took place right at the time the capital was holding a parade to celebrate the 80th anniversary of National Day. Amidst the flower-flagged crowd, the special ambulance of 108 Central Military Hospital is still urgently rolling, carrying hope for a new life for a critical illness.
Dr. Ngo Vi Hai emotionally shared: To the family of the donor, our responsibility is to make that noble gesture not become meaningless. As for the recipient's family, this is the only chance to revive. When we saw the first heartbeats beat again, we clearly felt the sacredness of the medical profession and the mission of the military doctor.
Lieutenant Colonel, Dr. Le Trung Hieu - Deputy Executive Director of the Organ Transplant Center (108 Central Military Hospital) emphasized: "The success of the heart transplant is the result of synchronous, urgent and professional coordination from information reception, consultation, coordination, to high-tech implementation. This is not only a medical achievement, but also a meaningful contribution of the military doctor to the common joy of the nation during the days of celebrating the Fatherland's independence".
This is the 5th heart transplant performed at the 108 Central Military Hospital. All previous patients have recovered well and returned to normal life. With a complete heart failure management system and a team of specialists in charge of the technique, the hospital is opening up the prospect of strongly developing a heart transplant program from brain-dead donors as well as a partially artificial heart.
The successful transplant not only saves a person's life, but also affirms the bravery and qualifications of the military medical team. They are not only highly skilled doctors, but also soldiers with the ideal heart of "living, fighting and contributing to the people". During the days when the whole country celebrates the independence of the Fatherland, their silent feats have added meaningful colors to the common joy of the nation.
