Doctors at Viet Duc Hospital perform heart and liver transplantation

The successful simultaneous heart and liver transplant performed at Viet Duc Hospital last year was a major breakthrough in Vietnam’s organ transplantation. This marked a significant leap in the country’s ability to execute complex surgical techniques.

The recipient, 41-year-old Dinh Van Hoa, was suffering from end-stage heart and liver failure, and the dual transplant was his only chance for survival. The surgery, which took place on October 1, 2024, lasted eight hours. Following the procedure, both the transplanted heart and liver began functioning well, enabling Mr. Hoa’s gradual recovery.

He said: "Before the transplant, I was extremely weak. Now, four months post-surgery, I feel much better. I can help my wife and children with housework again, and they are thrilled to see my progress."

Since Vietnam’s first kidney transplant in 1992, Vietnam has made significant strides in organ transplantation. As of last August, over 9,000 transplants were performed, including more than 8,000 kidney transplants, 600 liver transplants, 90 heart transplants, as well as lung, upper limb, and intestinal transplants. Each year, Vietnam performs over 1,000 transplants, making it the leading country in Southeast Asia in terms of transplant volume.

Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management at the Ministry of Health

Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management at the Ministry of Health, said: "Our achievements are immense, ensuring that thousands of lives will continue to be saved in the future. We are also working on transferring expertise to lower-tier hospitals so they can gradually adopt advanced transplantation techniques."

Vietnam’s top organ transplant centers—including Military Hospital 108, Viet-Duc Friendship Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital, and Hue Central Hospital—have consistently applied cutting-edge technologies and specialized advancements. Dr. Duong Duc Hung, Director of Viet-Duc Friendship Hospital, said: "We have incorporated scientific advancements and innovations, significantly enhancing transplant quality. Previously, a liver transplant from a brain-dead donor took around 12 to 14 hours. Today, with better techniques and modern equipment, we have reduced the procedure time to just 4.5 hours. This shorter duration leads to milder post-operative conditions, a faster recovery, reduced medication use, and lower costs."

Vietnam’s achievements in organ transplantation are paving the way for even more complex and advanced medical procedures, offering renewed hope to critically ill patients.