On June 6, Ho Chi Minh City University Medical Center Hospital said that the unit had just coordinated with hospitals in the city to successfully perform a heart transplant for a 13-year-old child with end-stage heart failure due to dilated myocardial disease.
About 6 months ago, the patient showed signs of leg edema, gradually increasing shortness of breath and was actively treated at Children's Hospital 1. However, dilated cardiomyopathy continued to progress, causing serious impairment of heart function, and heart transplantation became the last chance to maintain the patient's life.
The opportunity for heart transplant came when the National Coordination Center for Organ Transplantation announced that there was a compatible donated heart source from a brain death case at People's Hospital 115. The donor, a 32-year-old man, unfortunately suffered a large cerebral hemorrhage, and his family decided to donate tissues and organs to help patients waiting for transplantation.
Immediately after receiving coordination information, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital activated the emergency heart transplant procedure. The patient was transferred from Children's Hospital 1 to Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital to prepare for surgery, while the heart transplant team quickly went to People's Hospital 115 to receive the donated organ.
According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Dinh - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City University Medical Center Hospital, this is a case of end-stage heart failure in children with an absolute heart transplant indication. Close coordination between units and careful preparation have made an important contribution to the success of the surgery. The close geographical distance between the two hospitals also helps shorten the time of frozen ischemia of the transplanted organ, ensuring the quality of the heart and improving the safety for the surgery.
After many hours of surgery, the new heart has restarted in the recipient's chest. Currently, the patient is being monitored and actively cared for after the transplant with stable vital signs and positive recovery signals.
