Overlapping risk due to extremely rare blood types
Ms. M.P. was taken to the emergency room at Vinmec Phu Quoc General Hospital in a state of severe abdominal pain in the lower abdomen. Ultrasound results showed that the patient had an ectopic pregnancy on the right side, the size is equivalent to a 6-week-old fetus, and no fetal heartbeat was recorded.
Doctors determined that this was an emergency situation, if not treated promptly, it could lead to a ruptured fetus causing massive bleeding, dangerous to life. The hospital immediately activated a red alert, mobilizing an inter-specialized team to urgently prepare intervention plans.
However, a major challenge appeared when test results showed that the patient had the AB Rh- (Negative) blood type, an extremely rare blood type, accounting for only about 0.01% of the population in Vietnam. Meanwhile, ectopic pregnancy surgery poses a potential risk of heavy bleeding. With the geographical conditions on the island, finding a suitable blood source in a short time is an extremely difficult problem. If there is a lot of blood loss without timely transfusion, the risk of death is very high.
In addition, the patient is still young and still wants to have children in the future. Therefore, the treatment goal is not only to save lives, but also to maximize the preservation of fallopian tubes and healthy tissues, keeping the ability to become a mother later.
Faced with a nerve-wracking situation, the team quickly made the decision to perform laparoscopic surgery instead of open surgery to remove the ectopic pregnancy. This method has the advantage of being minimally invasive, limiting blood loss, maximizing the preservation of the uterus and appendages, and preserving the motherhood for the patient.
In parallel with that, the hospital proactively prepares a reserve blood source in case of emergency blood transfusions. With the characteristic of being an international hospital that regularly receives and treats many foreign tourists, Vinmec Phu Quoc has a diverse blood source, a reserve system and connection of rare blood sources operating effectively, ready to respond when needed.
Medical support for pearl island tourism
On the same night, Emergency, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Anesthesia and Resuscitation, Testing, and IMAGING doctors quickly arrived to coordinate the surgery. All equipment and technical means were fully prepared to ensure the surgery took place safely.
BS.CKI Vuong Ngoc Linh - Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, an experienced doctor in complex obstetric surgery - directly performed the surgery. Through 3 small holes on the abdominal wall (trocar), the doctor brought the camera and specialized instruments inside. Observing on a high-resolution screen, the doctor proceeded to remove the fetal mass and remove it, and at the same time used hemostomy clips to ensure no blood loss during and after surgery. After more than an hour, the 3x3 cm fetal mass was completely removed without damaging the surrounding organs.
After surgery, the patient was awake, had good contact, vital signs were stable, and no longer had abdominal pain. Thanks to minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, the patient recovered quickly, the incision was very small, and scarring was limited.
After only one day, the patient can exercise gently and eat normally. Less than two days after being admitted to the hospital, Ms. P. was discharged with stable health. For an international tourist, this is especially meaningful as she does not have to stay in the hospital for a long time and can soon return to her travel schedule with her family.
According to BS.CKI Vuong Ngoc Linh, international tourists when encountering medical incidents often find it difficult to avoid worrying about the quality of treatment on the island.
Vinmec Phu Quoc strengthens patient confidence thanks to the emergency, diagnosis, treatment and scientific care process; close multi-specialty coordination, synchronous application of emergency, resuscitation, and specialized surgical intervention techniques. Our goal is not only to treat effectively, but also to help patients recover quickly, ensuring the most complete travel experience," Dr. Linh emphasized.
The case is a clear demonstration of Vinmec Phu Quoc's in-depth and comprehensive obstetric emergency treatment capacity, especially its smooth multi-specialty coordination, rapid diagnosis and immediate surgical intervention, optimizing all resources to treat patients in specific geographical location conditions. This success also affirms the professional capacity and prestige of Vietnamese medicine, and contributes to enhancing the image of a safe and reliable destination for international tourists.
