 |
| Processing the donated heart prior to transplantation |
Earlier, on September 10th, upon receiving information about an organ donation case at Phu Tho Provincial General Hospital, Prof. Dr. Pham Nhu Hiep, Director of Hue Central Hospital, immediately directed a medical team to carry out the emergency organ retrieval. The donor, B.Q.K., had suffered a traffic accident and was admitted in a deep coma. Despite great efforts to save him, he was declared brain dead. With the compassionate consent of his family, the doctors retrieved multiple organs including the heart, liver, and two kidneys. The heart was then urgently transported from Phu Tho to Hue by air, with coordination among various medical units and public security forces.
The recipient, H.T.N., was in end-stage heart failure with severely impaired cardiac function (LVEF only 15-19%) and severe pulmonary hypertension. After surgery, the patient experienced serious complications, with very poor heart function, requiring circulatory support devices such as ECMO, intra-aortic balloon pump, and multiple vasopressor medications. Continuous dialysis was also necessary due to acute kidney failure.
 |
| H.T.N. recovering after the transplant |
Thanks to the persistence, expertise, and advanced equipment of the medical team, after more than five days of intensive care, the patient’s condition began to improve significantly. Doctors gradually weaned him off ECMO, the intra-aortic balloon pump, and the ventilator. Cardiac function recovered remarkably, reaching an LVEF of 55-60% by the time of discharge. The patient was able to eat, walk, and carry out daily activities, with biochemical and hematological indicators returning to normal ranges.
Prof. Dr. Pham Nhu Hiep, Director of Hue Central Hospital, shared: “The success of this cross-Vietnam heart transplant demonstrates the seamless coordination among multiple units: The National Organ Transplant Coordination Center, Phu Tho Provincial General Hospital, Viet Duc University Hospital, Vietnam Airlines, and local police forces. Especially, we would like to express our deep gratitude to the organ donor and his family for their noble act, which has given the gift of life to multiple patients with end-stage organ failure”.
 |
| Hospital leadership and medical staff present flowers to congratulate H.T.N. on the day of discharge |
To date, Hue Central Hospital has successfully performed more than 2,400 tissue and organ transplants, establishing itself as one of the country’s leading centers for heart, liver, kidney, and stem cell transplantation. It is also the only medical unit in Central Vietnam capable of carrying out all three advanced transplantation techniques. Notably, all cross-Vietnam heart transplants from the North to the South have achieved a 100% success rate, further affirming the prestige and standing of Vietnamese medicine on the regional transplant map.
The 20th heart transplant at Hue Central Hospital is not only the story of the miraculous recovery of H.T.N. but also a testament to the power of medical ethics, modern science, and nationwide collaboration. Another heart has been reborn, bringing hope to thousands of end-stage heart failure patients still waiting for a miracle.