On May 7, the hospital celebrated its 5th anniversary of the establishment of the hospital’s Lung Transplant Center. The two transplants were performed within one week of April, raising the center’s total transplantation cases to six, accounting for nearly 50 percent of lung transplants nationwide.

The first case involved a 54-year-old woman from Hanoi with end-stage lung disease, unresponsive to medical treatments, with other underlying severe conditions. For the last two years, she required six hours of daily oxygen support, with a high risk of death. 

The lung for her transplant came from a 38-year-old man declared brain-dead at People’s Hospital 115 in HCMC. The organ was transported by air to Hanoi, marking Vietnam’s first cross-country lung retrieval and transplant. 

On the night of April 11, surgeons at the National Lung Hospital performed an eight-hour transplant operation. After the surgery, the patient has been recovering well under care at the Lung Transplant Center.

She received post-operative care at the Lung Transplant Center, and health indicators show well recovery.

The second case, a week later, involved a 37-year-old woman from Thanh Hoa, who received a lung from a brain-dead 35-year-old man at Bach Mai Hospital. 

Eight hours after the surgery, she made a remarkable recovery, was extubated, and began breathing with her new lungs. After a week, she could breathe normally. This is a special feat in lung transplant surgery, equivalent to medical standards in developed countries. 

Before the transplant, she suffered from lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), which severely impaired lung function. She had progressive breathing difficulties, lost 5kg in a year, and required 14-16 hours of daily oxygen support for two months, facing imminent death without a transplant.

“Each lung transplant is a major medical challenge, reflecting significant advancements in the history of organ transplantation in our healthcare sector,” said Dr. Luong. Lung transplantation is among the most complex organ transplant techniques, requiring precise coordination across all departments. At the National Lung Hospital, this procedure has become routine. It is striving to become a regional lung transplant hub serving patients domestically and internationally.

Luong said Vietnam has performed 14 lung transplants so far, and there are around 900 patients currently in need.

While the cost of a lung transplant in Vietnam is relatively low compared to global standards, it remains a significant financial burden on many families. 

To improve access to the complicated technique, he suggested that the expenses of lung transplants be covered by social insurance. 

Vo Thu